NHS Lothian has appointed construction firm Kier as Principal Supply Chain Partner for the long-awaited replacement Eye Hospital in Edinburgh.
This marks a significant milestone in the project to deliver world-class ophthalmological care for the whole region.
The multi-million pound facility will be built at the BioQuarter at Little France, sited alongside the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, and a cluster of University of Edinburgh clinical research facilities. The new centre will replace the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion on Lauriston Place, which was forced to close last year for a time for refurbishment. It has been described as a “hub of excellence” which will deliver specialist services – including surgical retinal services, paediatric surgery and neuro-ophthalmology – to patients not only across Lothian but also from NHS Borders, Tayside and Fife.
The development comes against a backdrop of growing concern over the scale of sight loss facing Scotland in the coming years. Sight Scotland’s election manifesto warns that more than 230,000 people could be living with sight loss by 2035, representing a 27 per cent increase on current figures, and the charity is calling on the incoming Scottish Government to treat the repair of the country’s “crumbling eye health infrastructure” as a matter of urgency. The delivery of the new Edinburgh Eye Hospital features prominently among their demands, reflecting the wider pressure on policymakers to ensure that bricks-and-mortar investment keeps pace with what is projected to be a significant and growing public health challenge.
Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Lothian, said: “We are pleased to appoint Kier as our Principal Supply Chain Partner and take the next step in the process towards opening a new eye hospital in Lothian.
“We are delighted that the hospital is becoming a reality and that makes this milestone even more exciting. I would like to thank our teams for their commitment and endurance throughout the planning of this project – I know this step will mean a great deal to them.
“Our teams in the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion have a world-class reputation for their innovation, treatment, patient safety and care, but the building no longer supports them or the thousands of surgical, inpatients and outpatients who attend each year.
“This new state-of-the-art facility will allow our magnificent teams to continue providing the exceptional patient care and treatment they are renowned for.”
Sean Fenner, Managing Director, Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: “We are proud to be the Principal Supply Chain Partner for NHS Lothian to deliver early construction works at the new Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion – a new Centre of Excellence that will transform eye care for patients across the region.
“Our team brings unrivalled expertise, shaped by landmark projects such as the NHS Golden Jubilee Eye Hospital and Sunderland Eye Infirmary, and informed by best practice from leading ophthalmic centres in the UK and internationally.
“Working in partnership with NHS Lothian, we will create an environment that enhances patient experience, empowers staff and establishes a new standard of excellence in ophthalmic care across Scotland.”
