HEALTH Centres and GP Practices in the Borders will be closed for the public holidays over the festive season.

On December 27 and 28, and January 3 and 4 all practices will be closed, except for Newcastleton Health Centre which will open on January 4.

Between Christmas and New Year health centres will remain open, but members of the public are asked only attend with an appointment.

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Appointments can still be made over the phone by calling your local practice.

Or if you require advice or treatment for non-life threatening conditions, call NHS 24 on 111.

A NHS Borders spokesperson said: "NHS 24 will assess you by telephone and refer you to the right care at the right place.

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"This could include self-care, community pharmacy or referral into the flow centre at Borders General Hospital for a clinical assessment.

"This will avoid you having to make any unnecessary trips to hospital and it also ensures that our specialists in the Emergency Department are available to treat people who require emergency medical care for life threatening conditions.

"If it is an emergency you should still call 999 as you did before or visit the Emergency Department at BGH."