A HEALTH authority has put out a denial that Cumbrian Covid-19 patients are transferred to Scotland because of 'capacity' issues.

An NHS Dumfries & Galloway spokesman said: "It has been reported publicly that, due to issues with capacity, patients from Cumbria had been transferred to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

"This is not the case. What has been instituted is an approach which sees anyone who lives on the border, but on the Scottish side, being taken to hospital in Dumfries in the first instance, rather than to the Cumberland Infirmary.

"This is a variance to arrangements which would normally allow for some discretion in terms of where patients close to the border are taken for treatment in the first instance.

"Saying that reciprocal arrangements to provide mutual support such as receipt of patients due to capacity do exist between boards, to be implemented as required."