NHS Lothian has moved a step closer to building a replacement for the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion after the Scottish government approved its outline business case. Health Secretary Humza Yousaf confirmed that the health board has now been invited to submit a full business plan for the new facility.
The £45m replacement eye hospital at Little France was initially agreed in 2018, but funding was withdrawn by the Scottish government last year. A review of NHS Lothian's eye care services was ordered in February following the decision to pull the funding.
The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Chalmers Street was deemed unfit for purpose in 2015. Last December, the Scottish government said it was not in a position to fund a replacement, arguing that new technology and medical advances meant many patients could be treated effectively using virtual clinics and community optometrists.
However, on Friday, Humza Yousaf announced that the new hospital would be part of a £10bn investment in the NHS estate over the next decade, which will see the renewal and replacement of health facilities across Scotland. He said: 'I am delighted that we are a step closer to delivering improved specialised eye services for the city of Edinburgh and the wider region.'
Calum Campbell, chief executive of NHS Lothian, welcomed the approval, stating: 'We are pleased that the outline business case for the Eye Pavilion has been approved by Scottish government. This brings us a step closer to making the vision for a replacement eye hospital a reality.' He added that there is still much work to do as they prepare the full business case.
