Temporary Closure of Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion 28.10.24
Background
In the middle of September Investigations revealed that there were leaks in 2 copper waste-pipe stacks serving the PAEP. This requires substantial work to remove and replace the pipes and there is also a need to remove some asbestos material contained in a sealed interior cavity space behind walls where one of the pipes is housed.
External contractors have advised that it is essential to vacate the building due to the disruptive nature of the work and for it to be done safely and efficiently. We are advised that to carry out the works and complete a thorough re-commissioning process, the building will be out of action for a period of 6 months.
Migration of Services
In the 5 weeks since NHS Lothian learned of the need to vacate the building, teams have been working hard to plan the migration of services. The driving force has been to ensure that we can continue to provide all the services normally housed at PAEP, and to do so in safe environments.
We understand that moving services to unfamiliar location will be a source of considerable concern and inconvenience to you and we are very sorry for any distress caused. However, we can assure you that the services will remain safe and effective with access to all the supporting services you may need.
Great care has been taken to identify locations that take account of a number of factors:
- appropriate clinical environment for each clinic (e.g. necessary ventilation standard and other Infection Prevention and Control considerations)
- co-location of sub-specialties where possible
- locating urgent care referrals on one site
- locating all inpatient and surgical activity, including day cases on one site
- housing adult patient medical records in one location at Lauriston (where other patient records are stored) and at RHCYP for paediatrics
- ensuring adjacency of required support services for clinics (e.g. imaging and pharmacy)
- optimal deployment of staff to run as many clinics slots as possible
Service Moves
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Service
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New Location
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Acute Referral Centre (ARC)
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Lauriston Building
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Botox
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St John's Hospital
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Cataracts
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St John's Hospital
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Corneal
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St John's Hospital
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Inpatients & Day Cases
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St John's Hospital
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Diabetics Eye Disease
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Lauriston Building
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General Ophthalmology
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Lauriston Building
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Glaucoma
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Lauriston Building
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Macular & IVT
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East Lothian Community Hospital and
St John's Hospital
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Medical Retina
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Lauriston Building
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Neuro-ophthalmology
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DCN at the RHCYP
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Nurse-led Cysts
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St John's Hospital
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Paediatric Outpatients
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RHCYP
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Records Library
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Lauriston Building (Adults)
RHCYP (Paediatrics)
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Strabismus & Decompression
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DCN
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Theatres
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St John's Hospital
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Uveitis
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St John's Hospital
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Medical Secretaries
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Lauriston Building
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VR
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St John's Hospital
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Pharmacy
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Lauriston Building
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Laser Clinics
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Lauriston Building and
St John's Hospital
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Waiting List Booking Team
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Woodburn House temporarily, then Lauriston Building
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Patient Support
Changes to existing appointments have been communicated to you individually by phone, text or letter, or by a combination of these. New appointment letters and texts messages will automatically contain the new appointment locations. All communications use accessible and large fonts.
If you have any questions about your appointment, please contact the waiting list office on 0131 537 1340 (+option 2)
NHS Lothian’s volunteers will be providing a meet, greet and guide service where possible to assist you arriving at an unfamiliar site.
Signage at the PAEP directs any patient arriving there in error to the reception desk at Lauriston building across the road where they will be assisted, and a phone number is also provided for this purpose. For the first two weeks of PAEP’s closure a receptionist will be stationed at PAEP to offer additional assistance.
An information hub has been established on our website with very prominent signposting on the website home landing page.
Whilst we cannot offer bespoke patient transport, the website hub contains detailed information about public transport routes to each of the new appointment locations.
https://www.nhslothian.scot/goingtohospital/the-princess-alexandra-eye-pavilion/
