NHS Lothian is preparing for a return of services to the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, following its temporary closure in Autumn 2024 to enable urgent repair work to be carried out.
In September 2024, investigations revealed that there were leaks in two copper waste-pipe stacks. This required substantial work to remove and replace the pipes and a need to also remove asbestos material.
These works are now nearing completion, and a substantial amount of planning has been undertaken to develop the timeline for services to return to the building.
Jim Crombie, NHS Lothian Deputy Chief Executive explained, “Moving a hospital is a complex operation, but one which our teams have carefully planned for. For many patients, the move back to the familiar surroundings of the PAEP, will be most welcome.”
Services are scheduled to begin their move back to the building at the start of June, with NHS Lothian teams working hard to ensure minimal patient disruption during this time. All patients will continue to receive tailored communications by letter, text or both with specific information about where their appointments or elective procedures are taking place. Services will continue to operate from their temporary locations until their proposed move date, with all services due to be operational within PAEP by the end of June.
Mr Crombie added, “We are really grateful to our patients for their understanding while the PAEP has been temporarily closed, recognising the additional stress and inconvenience this may have caused.
“We welcome the feedback we have received from patients and their families, which we have been able to use to help support our plans for the return to the building.
“I would like to reassure patients, as we prepare to move services back, that they do not need to do anything. They will continue to be notified of where any appointments are taking place.”
Updated patient information is available on the NHS Lothian website – The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion – Going to Hospital
Michelle Carr, Chief Officer, Acute Services, NHS Lothian said, “I would like to thank all our teams for their ongoing professionalism and commitment to patient care whilst the PAEP has been temporarily closed. I am delighted that we are now preparing to move services back into the building.”
