The Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership and SB Cares have officially opened the doors to the new premises of the Community Equipment Service in Tweedbank.

The recently completed refurbishments to Waverley Care Home in Galashiels have also been unveiled.

Both facilities received funding from the Health and Social Care Partnership to achieve the transformations.

As a result of the refurbishment it has undergone, Waverley now provides a fit for the future care home provision of 10 long stay beds as well as a new 16 bed transitional care facility. This new service delivers short term rehabilitation for up to six weeks for people who no longer need to be in hospital but require some additional support to regain their independence before returning home.

People are referred to the transitional care facility by hospital and social work colleagues where it is felt that they may benefit from rehabilitation following illness or injury. While staying at Waverley, they will be seen by an occupational therapist and/or physiotherapist who will discuss with them what they would like to achieve that would enable them to return home. This could include practice in everyday tasks such as washing, dressing, walking and cooking as well as working to build confidence to promote independence and help them manage at home more effectively.

The Community Equipment Service (formerly Borders Ability Equipment Service) now operates from a state of the art facility that has been designed to ensure ability equipment is cleaned and recycled to the highest possible standard in as short a time as possible. This means that equipment can be returned for use in the community without delay. The building also contains an industrial washer/disinfector, improved welfare facilities for staff, a larger warehouse for increased stock holding and a public space for demonstrating equipment.

Tracey Logan, chief executive at Scottish Borders Council, said: “I am delighted that the investment made by the Partnership has resulted in such significant benefits, not only for the clients who use these two important facilities, but also for the staff who work in them.

“The upgrade to Waverley now means that residents are living in modernised, comfortable rooms that are of the high standard that we would expect them to be enjoying. We would like to thank residents and families alike for their patience while the refurbishment was taking place but trust they are now feeling settled into the new space. The feedback that has been received so far has certainly been positive and I hope they will continue to experience the benefits of their new and improved accommodation.

“The new transitional care facility is significant step in the Partnership’s commitment to providing more effective ways of supporting people to return to their own homes. The relaxed and welcoming atmosphere of Waverley is a far more appropriate setting for them to be able to regain their independence and confidence and again, initial feedback from clients and their family carers has been very encouraging.

“The relocation of the Community Equipment Service has been another important project that will benefit anyone needing to be supplied with suitable mobility equipment. As well as having increased storage space for new equipment, any items that are returned as part of the ability equipment amnesty the Partnership is currently running, can now be recycled quickly and efficiently before being reissued to the people who need them.”

Philip Barr, managing director at SB Cares, added: “The refurbishment and upgrade to these two facilities is most welcome and we are grateful to the Partnership for the priority they have given to both projects. Our staff work hard to deliver the highest standard of service they can, but to be able to do so in these new and improved environments will certainly help them achieve this.”