Eyepavilion

I hope that Edinburgh City Council will agree to support those calling on the Scottish government to reverse its recent decision to withdraw the funding it promised in 2018 for a new eye hospital in Edinburgh.

Recent letters from Dr Hector Chawla have drawn attention to this decision to abandon the building of the long awaited replacement for the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion.

This wouid mean the dispersal of the world class team of expert clinicians there. While this may save the immediate capital cost, I cannot believe it will save money in the long term and would lead to a significantly worse service for patients.

Others have pointed out the importance of having a team of specialist doctors and staff working together in the same building. This helps the development of new ideas and means that colleagues can consult. If a patient is referred to a specialised eye hospital this may be vital.

As regards location, the plan to site it at Little France is by far the best for access both for those in Edinburgh and those in different parts of the Lothians.

Further, this would have the advantage of being next to the Royal Infirmary and the new Childrens' Hospital.

If the Eye Hospital is built there, it would continue the development of a modern integrated medical site for the people of Edinburgh and the Lothians with its growing population.

I have been able to continue to read, and indeed write this letter, as a result of the treatment I have received for 30 years from opthalmic surgeons at the Eye Pavilion, including Dr Hector Chawla and the late Dr Barry Cullen.

I believe it was very largely as a result of their efforts that the Eye Pavilion was set up and achieved its excellent status.

Surely the money must be found to perpetuate this service for eye patients.

ANDREW M BELL York Road, Edinburgh