A 30-year-old woman has been remanded in custody after being accused of causing a disturbance at Borders General Hospital on Monday.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told that Nikitta James had developed a pattern of taking overdoses and then becoming aggressive towards hospital staff.

Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley said that according to the reporting police officer, James indicated that she was not the problem and 'NHS staff are at fault'.

James, formerly of Hawick, and now living at Galabank Street in Galashiels, appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court today (Tuesday) after being detained the previous day.

She pleaded not guilty to a charge of obstructing a registered medical practitioner in the hospital's accident and emergency department by refusing treatment; shouting, swearing and screaming; interfering with equipment which had been used to treat her and attempting to punch the health worker.

A trial date was fixed for November 22 and the Crown opposed bail pointing out James had previous convictions for offences at the hospital and that there was 'an ongoing pattern of behaviour' which could be described as 'deeply manipulative'.

Sheriff Peter Paterson refused a defence motion for bail and remanded James in custody.

He said: "The court is not prepared to accept any sort of offending at the hospital which takes away valuable resources from people who are genuinely ill."