Borderers stay healthier for longer, new figures reveal

In the statistics, released by the Scottish Intensive Care Society Audit Group, the Borders comes second for the highest average age of people admitted to intensive care or high dependency units in hospital - 65 years old.

Mr Lamont said: “This will be in part due to the healthier lifestyles of those living in the Borders, but also of the high standard of care received from the doctors and nurses in our NHS.

“However, despite this there is still room for improvement and we all still have a responsibility to take care of our own health and well-being.

“Eating more healthily and taking part in even a small amount of exercise can make a big difference to your health, and it is important we do what we can to teach Borderers of all ages the importance of an active lifestyle.”

The Borders was second only to the Western Isles for the highest average age of admissions to such units. At 65, the Borders also came in seven years higher than Glasgow.

The figures are often used to indicate the standard of health in Scottish health board regions, with an older average age showing that people are not having to access urgent medical care until later in their lives.

The most up-to-date life expectancy figures for the Borders showed that for men aged 65 in 2010, their life expectancy was another 17.7 years, with 65-year-old women expected to live until they were almost 85.

Both statistics put the Borders among the top half of all Scottish local authority areas.