Edinburgh's long-awaited new eye hospital: 'No time to lose' as main contractor appointed
There’s no time to lose in building Edinburgh’s long-awaited new eye hospital, MSPs have declared following the appointment of the main contractor for the multimillion pound project.
NHS Lothian has announced construction company Kier - which has already worked on the NHS Golden Jubilee Eye Hospital in Glasgow and Sunderland Eye Infirmary - will act as principal supply chain partner to build the new hospital, which will replace the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, serving adults and children across Lothian, as well as south-east Scotland.
The current Eye Pavilion was declared no longer fit for purpose in 2014, with a replacement first approved in principle by the Scottish Government in 2018. The project was then cancelled in 2020 before the government U-turned during the 2021 Holyrood election campaign. Another delay followed when all major health construction projects were put on hold in 2023. Finance Secretary Shona Robison gave it the go-ahead a year later, but patients and campaigners were disappointed to learn in 2025 that the new hospital would take six years to complete.
It will be built close to the Royal Infirmary and the new Sick Kids hospital at Little France.
Lothian Tory MSP Miles Briggs said: “After years of campaigning for a new eye hospital alongside patients and stakeholders, it is very welcome to finally hear that progress is being made with a contractor officially appointed to the project.
“For the thousands of ophthalmology patients who have faced ever-growing waiting times in the old Eye Pavilion, this news will be very encouraging. Despite so much delay from the SNP Ministers, it looks as though there is light at the end of the tunnel for patients in Lothian.
“It is now of the utmost importance that Ministers work closely with Kier Construction to make sure that no time is wasted and that the new facility is future-proof.
“As an MSP I will continue to actively monitor and hold all responsible bodies to account to try to make sure the project is delivered as soon as possible and that patients and their families get the world-class facilities we should all expect.”
And Lothian Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: “I am glad to see progress is finally getting made on a new eye hospital.
“Patients have already had to wait 12 years for an adequate service, they shouldn’t have to wait a minute longer than necessary.
“I will continue to keep the government’s feet to the fire on this project and ensure it is delivered as soon as possible.”
NHS Lothian said the new hospital would be a hub of excellence, providing specialist services, such as surgical retinal services, paediatric surgery and neuro-ophthalmology for patients from NHS Borders, Tayside and Fife, as well as Lothian.
NHS Lothian deputy chief executive Jim Crombie 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.”
And Health Secretary Neil Gray said the investment demonstrated the Scottish Government’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and ensuring everyone had access to the treatment they needed.