Eye hospital to shut for six months for urgent plumbing repairs

Edinburgh's eye hospital is to close for six months while urgent plumbing repairs are carried out.

Work to remove waste pipes and asbestos from part of Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion is expected to take about six months from the end of October.

NHS Lothian said "extensive work" was required on the plumbing system in the building, which opened in 1969.

Plans to replace the building in Chalmers Street - which was found to be unfit for purpose in 2015 - have been put on hold as a result of budget pressures.

A £45m replacement eye hospital at Little France was agreed in 2018, but funding was withdrawn by the Scottish government in 2020, arguing that medical advances meant many patients could be treated at virtual clinics and community optometrists.

However, in 2021 then health secretary Humza Yousaf said a new eye hospital would be part of a £10bn investment in the NHS estate over 10 years.

The cost to replace the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion has since been put at £123m.

In February, at least a dozen NHS construction projects across the country were put on hold for up to two years as a result of budget pressures.

Plans to reveal which new treatment centres will be built in Scotland were then delayed until the 2025/26 Scottish budget, which is usually around December.

The hospital will close from 28 October and all patients will have their appointments moved to other NHS Lothian facilities "to protect patients, staff and visitors" while contractors replace two waste pipes and remove asbestos material from a sealed cavity.

A very small number of appointments scheduled to take place before then may need to be rescheduled.

NHS Lothian deputy chief executive Jim Crombie said the board was sorry for the inconvenience to patients, but it was "not a decision we have taken lightly".

“Whilst patients and staff are not at risk, the work is essential and the advice we have received from our contractors is that this can be done more speedily and safely if the building is temporarily vacated," he said.

“Patient and staff safety are always our chief consideration.

"Our teams are working hard to minimise disruption and to ensure patients continue to be seen and treated throughout this period.”

All appointments are expected to be held in NHS Lothian facilities.

The health board said "very small number of appointments" before 28 October may need to be rescheduled and would be contacted by their clinical teams at least two weeks in advance.

Patients with appointments after that date would be contacted by letter, text or both.