The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh, an essential provider of eye health care for NHS Lothian patients, will be closed for 6 months from the end of October to undergo urgent plumbing repairs.
The eye hospital, despite being deemed unfit for purposes in 2014, remains the only specialist eye care provider for people with eye conditions or visual impairments in Edinburgh. Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans are alarmed by the recent news of its closure and have written to NHS Lothian to gain further clarity on what this will mean for patients.
Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, has publicly spoken out about closure and is asking that the safety and wellbeing of patients is NHS Lothian’s top priority.
“We are alarmed by the news of NHS Lothian's urgent repairs at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, which will severely disrupt patient services for around six months. While we understand the need for these repairs to ensure safety, we are deeply concerned about the serious risk to patient health and wellbeing.”
Craig Spalding said: "We have written to NHS Lothian requesting clarity on the alternative locations for patient appointments and what transport arrangements will be made for those with visual impairments. Many people with sight loss cannot drive and may not have someone to assist them on public transport. Will provisions such as taxis or ambulances be made available?"
In the letter to Jim Crombie, Chief Executive Officer of NHS Lothian, Craig asked that key information on appointment changes be delivered to patients in an accessible format such as via phone calls and formats like large print or braille.
Our charities have continued to support and campaign for the development of a new eye hospital for patients in the Lothians and surrounding areas, however these plans have been scrapped due to the Scottish Government’s pause on capital spending. The announcement of these emergency works is further indication that the building is unfit for purpose and that a new hospital is urgently needed.
Spalding adds: “It’s no surprise that yet again, eye patients are suffering because of the dire state of this building. The Scottish Government’s decision to scrap plans for a new hospital is failing countless vulnerable people. I seriously question the logic of pouring money into repairs for a building declared unfit a decade ago instead of investing in a new facility. When will this ongoing debacle finally end?"
Please sign our petition demanding a new eye hospital in Edinburgh.
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