A patient at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, has come forward to offer their insight into the shocking failings in the hospital.
Peter Scobie has been attending the Eye Pavilion for 18 years, after being diagnosed with Lebers hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).
He lost his sight just before the pandemic and has been blind for 4 years now.
Peter has revealed the absence of specialists in the hospital, as his specialist is a paediatric doctor from the sick kids, who only comes to the Pavilion on Tuesdays.
A further issue with the hospital comes down to geographic issues, as he has previously been sent to Newcastle for an appointment while the closest specialist is even further south in Cambridge.
He has also highlighted the absurd situation of those needing to receive sight loss assessments must go to the most inaccessible part of the building to receive the check.
Campaigners for a new Eye Pavilion, based at the Royal Infirmary were disappointed when the Scottish Government made no mention of the project in the budget late last year.
This is despite Michael Matheson telling campaigners that a decision would be made around the budget.
Health boards then discovered that there would be a two-year freeze on all capital spending and projects. They are also required to make 6.8% savings.
If this stays in place, there is no way that the Eye Pavilion will be built in the near future. This will force Peter, and other patients like him, to rely on services that the NHS themselves deemed not fit for purpose 10 years ago.
Commenting on Peter’s case, Labour Lothians MSP Sarah Boyack said: “Peter has helped to highlight the unacceptable condition of the current Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion.
“Patients should have facilities that support them through their difficulties, not hinder them further.
“Eye Pavilion staff do their best but without a new building and facilities they have one hand tied behind their back.
“The Scottish Government needs to listen to patients like Peter and realise that maintaining the current building is bad for patients, bad for NHS Lothian, and bad for Edinburgh.”
Sight Scotland added: “In Peter’s case, an absence of specialist doctors that are trained in his condition means it is difficult for him to get the correct treatment he needs.
“With the closest specialist for his condition based in Cambridge, a new eye hospital could be an opportunity to provide a training ground for ophthalmologists.
“The hospital’s inaccessible layout means that Peter and many others seeking essential services, such as collecting prescriptions and visiting patient support on the top floor, struggle to do so.
“More needs to be done to ensure accessible access to quality eye healthcare.”
Labour Lothians MSP, Sarah Boyack highlighted deeply distressing figures about the fall in GP surgeries in Edinburgh.
The latest figures by Public Health Scotland show that from 2010-2022, the number of Edinburgh’s GP surgeries dropped from 75 to 72. However, over the same period Edinburgh’s population skyrocketed from an estimated 480,000 to 548,000.
Edinburgh recorded the third highest population growth in Scotland, according to the most recent statistics.
This all comes as it was revealed the city of Edinburgh’s average practice list size has jumped from 7,074 in 2012, to 8413 – the 5th highest in Scotland.
In May 2023, the BMA warned that there was a sustainability crisis in Scottish general practice, in part due to the closing of surgeries.
A fall in GP surgeries will leave more and more communities without the adequate facilities to cope with their population increase.
This follows on from the Scottish Government’s decision to freeze capital projects for health boards, as well as freezing the ability to hire new staff.
The Scottish Government also requires health boards to require savings of 6.8%.
These moves will only increase pressures on NHS Lothian to provide adequate healthcare services with diminishing resources.
Commenting on the findings, Sarah Boyack said: “These figures are deeply distressing but will come as no surprise to patients in Edinburgh.
“The Scottish Government’s underfunding has left Edinburgh’s GPs unable to keep up with the city’s population growth.
“If the Scottish Government goes ahead with its budget plans, this will only exacerbate the problem.
“GP surgery staff do amazing work, but they need the funding to fulfil their potential.
“Allowing GP surgeries to close merely aggravates the sustainability crisis we are facing in general practice.
“If we are to tackle this issue, we need investment and strategy from the Scottish Government, not freezes and delays.”
Lothian Labour MSP Sarah Boyack has expressed her deep disappointment in Edinburgh City FC’s decision to scrap their women’s team and their development teams.
This decision follows weeks of financial turbulence for the team.
Ms Boyack has expressed her dismay that the burden of stabilising the club’s finances has fallen on the Women’s Team.
It will be a huge blow on the drive to get women more represented in sport.
The team have indicated that they hoped this decision would be temporary but have provided no timeline for when the teams may be reinstated.
Commenting on the decision, Sarah Boyack said: “I am extremely disappointed by Edinburgh City FC’s decision to scrap their women and development team.
“I acknowledge the financial difficulties of the team but at a time when women’s football is finally getting the audience it deserves, to scrap the Women’s Team sends entirely the wrong message.
“We should be doing more to encourage women into football and sports more generally.
“Women’s’ teams represent the best opportunity to showcase the talented female footballers we have here in Scotland.
“If Edinburgh City FC are serious about this being a temporary decision, they need to lay out a clear timetable for when the Women’s and Development teams will be restored.”
Lothian Labour MSP, Sarah Boyack has written to Cabinet Secretary for Health, to ask him for clarity over when the decision will be made over the New Edinburgh Eye Pavilion.
In a November meeting organised by Ms Boyack between patients and Michael Matheson, the Cabinet Secretary assured patients that any decision over the Eye Pavilion would be made in December, in line with the budget.
However, a Scottish Government spokesperson has now claimed that the decision will not be made until the Spring.
Delaying this decision will force patients to rely on outdated services and face further cancelled appointments.
Campaigners were hoping that the current budget would provide long awaited clarity for whether the new facility would get the go-ahead.
Sarah Boyack MSP said: “Michael Matheson has fundamentally misled patients.
“To tell patients that the decision would be made in December, only for it to be pushed back to the Spring is a slap in the face for all those who need a new facility.
“Michael Matheson needs to confirm on the record when the capital spending will be announced and apologise for misleading patients.
“Every day the Scottish Government delays, the project becomes more expensive, and the current Eye Pavilion deteriorates further.
“If Michael Matheson does not provide clarity now, we are heading towards a crisis for eyecare services in Edinburgh.”
Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland, added: “We’re concerned the Scottish Government’s plans to review this project again in the spring is too little too late.
“It’s now 10 years on since the current hospital was declared unfit for purpose and by delaying the decision again is ignoring the critical need of patients and staff attending the current hospital.
“As time goes on, the building deteriorates further and the risk to people’s safety increases. People with visual impairment and eye conditions deserve better.”
Former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has thrown his weight behind Sarah Boyack’s campaign for a full replacement of the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion.
In a recently published video, Gordon Brown highlighted the urgent need for a new Edinburgh Eye Pavilion, citing his own experience with the service.
In his endorsement, Brown labelled the idea that the Eye Pavilion may be lost from Edinburgh ‘a tragedy’.
Having lost sight in one eye while a teenager, Gordon Brown draws on 50 years of experience being a patient at the current Princess Alexandria Eye Hospital, to highlight the critical need for new facilities.
Gordon Brown is the latest political figure to back this campaign, after a cross-party group of MSPs wrote to Michael Matheson to demand the funding for a new Eye Pavilion.
Commenting on Gordon Brown’s intervention, Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: “There is no one I would rather have than Gordon Brown, to join the campaign for a new Eye Pavilion.
“Gordon knows first-hand how critical this project is to patients across the Lothians, and beyond.
“Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson must listen to the breadth of support that a new Eye Pavilion has.
“This is not about party politics; this is about coming together to ensure the Scottish Government delivers a project that is vital for patients in Edinburgh.
“It’s vital that the Scottish Government provides the funding urgently needed for a new eye hospital in Edinburgh. Patients deserve nothing less than a modern hospital that is fit for purpose.”
Lothian Labour MSP, Sarah Boyack, has criticised the Scottish Government’s failure to address woeful waiting times at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
The latest figures published by Public Health Scotland, show that only 46% of A&E Patients at the Royal Infirmary, are seen within 4 hours. This is compared to 62% across the whole of NHS Lothian Health Board, and 68% across the whole of Scotland.
The number of patients seen within 4 hours, has plummeted almost 10% since July – falling from 55%.
The Royal Infirmary figures are well short of the Scottish Government’s target of 95% of people seen and discharged within 4 hours of arrival in A&E.
Commenting on the statistics, Sarah Boyack said:“The latest A&E wait time figures illustrate that patients at Edinburgh’s largest hospital are left waiting by the SNP/Green Government.
“Royal Infirmary staff work incredibly hard to deliver services for patients, but the Scottish Government has not provided the resources to ensure local hospitals can deliver the care and treatment local residents deserve.
“Edinburgh residents need the Scottish Government to step up its game and provide the Royal Infirmary with the support it needs reduce waiting times rapidly.”
Yesterday the SNP/Green led Scottish Government voted down Scottish Labour’s Motion to declare a housing emergency across Scotland.
In her speech Scottish Labour’s Sarah Boyack MSP, praised the leadership shown by City of Edinburgh Councillors but called out the SNP and Greens for failing to do so in Holyrood.
Ms Boyack urged the Scottish Government to provide local authorities, like Edinburgh, the resources they need to take substantial steps in tackling the Housing emergency.
Ms Boyack also used her speech to highlight practical solutions, that could be taken to make an immediate start on tackling the housing emergency, such as bringing empty homes back into use. However, Edinburgh Council need resources from the Scottish government, to make this happen.
Speaking after the debate, Sarah Boyack said: “Tackling the housing emergency in Edinburgh needs to be a priority. Every day I receive emails from constituents who are struggling to access the housing they need or are being priced out altogether.
“SNP Councillors recognise the magnitude of the crisis, so why doesn’t the SNP Government?
“So far, the Scottish Government has failed to recognise the scale of the challenge. The Scottish Government needs to work constructively with all councils, to ensure the resources are in place, to adequately tackle this emergency
“MSPs will have another opportunity to recognise that we are facing a housing emergency through my motion and subsequent members business in the new year.”
Scottish Labour’s Sarah Boyack MSP has today lodged her final proposal for her Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Members’ Bill.
Despite ’empty promises’ for action from the SNP-led Scottish Government to legislate in this area there have been no tangible results to date.
As a result Sarah Boyack MSP has taken the initiative and pursued this issue as a Members Bill.
The lodging of the members’ bill follows an extensive consultation process which confirmed overwhelming support from stakeholders and constituents for all aspects of Ms Boyack’s Bill.
Scottish Labour’s Sarah Boyack explained: “Over 100 organisations called for this action in the run up to the 2021 elections. My Members’ Bill will end short-termism in the Scottish Government, and commit to the long-term thinking and action that has Wellbeing and Sustainable Development at its heart.
“Successive Programmes for Government have promised a bill of this nature, but as always its warm words and little action from the SNP.
“After a long and comprehensive consultation process it is clear that there is overwhelming support for action and a new Future Generations Commissioner and I encourage all members to support my bill now that it has been lodged”.
Also commenting Sarah Davidson, Chief Executive of Carnegie UK, said: “New wellbeing laws in Scotland would help to hardwire long-term thinking into our political and governmental decision-making.
“Backed by a new Future Generations Commissioner, the legal framework would help our decision-makers to look toward the horizon as well as deal with current emergencies.
“We’d urge MSPs from across the political spectrum to back these moves to help us to tackle the biggest challenges of our time.”
Councillors in Edinburgh have overwhelmingly voted to recognise and seek to address the scale of Edinburgh’s housing crisis.
In a first for the city, members agreed to officially declare an emergency today (Thursday 2 November) during a Full Council meeting.
It comes as Shelter calls on local authorities to take concerted action across the country, and as homelessness reaches close to 5,000 households a night in the Capital despite a huge amount of preventative work by the third sector, Council and partners.
Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said:Edinburgh is a caring, welcoming city and our council officers, charities and partners do an incredible job supporting our most vulnerable residents. Sadly, however, despite us doubling the Council’s homelessness budget over the last three years, we are now at risk of failing households who need our help most.
“Edinburgh may be a wealthy city on the surface, but we are seeing demand for homes far outstrip supply. Close to 5,000 households including many children will need to live in temporary accommodation this Christmas, because of this housing shortage.
“This is not a new challenge, but it is at the stage of breaking point. Rents are being driven up, the cost of living continues to put pressure on household bills and homelessness is rising. We have ambitious housebuilding plans, but we face rising construction costs as a result of inflation and difficulties securing land. This is against a backdrop of Edinburgh having the lowest proportion of homes for social rent in all of Scotland.
“By declaring a housing emergency, we hope to draw widescale attention to an issue that demands urgent and united action. Every single person deserves a warm, safe, and affordable place to call home and we can address this, if we act now.
“I’m pleased this decision received such powerful support today from Councillors and we will now work towards establishing a Housing Emergency Action Plan, while seeking the resources necessary to achieve its success.”
Shelter Scotland has welcomed the City of Edinburgh Council’s declaration of a housing emergency.
The capital becomes the first city in Scotland to declare a housing emergency, with councillors backing a motion at today’s full council meeting.
The motion also commits the council to developing a housing emergency action plan alongside key housing, social justice, and other stakeholders from across the city.
The housing and homelessness charity pointed to the chronic shortage of social housing in Edinburgh, the record numbers of children stuck in temporary accommodation in the city, and the rising average cost of private renting as evidence of a housing emergency in Edinburgh.
Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said:“Rents are out of control, record numbers of kids have nowhere to call home, more and more people are becoming homeless – Edinburgh is clearly in a housing emergency.
“The housing emergency is touching communities across Scotland, but a chronic lack of social homes, and the enormous number of properties used exclusively for short-term lets are just some of the factors which have made the situation especially acute in Edinburgh.
“By coming together to acknowledge that reality today, councillors now have licence to deliver the emergency response we need.
“Of course, there are aspects of the housing emergency that are beyond the council’s control, both the UK and Scottish governments must share responsibility, but it’s clear that a business-as-usual approach isn’t going to cut it anymore.
“People in the capital are crying out for action – every level of government has a duty to respond.
“Today’s declaration of a housing emergency is just the start of the journey; Shelter Scotland is ready to support the council as it prepares its action plan and we’ll be monitoring progress closely.”
Scottish Labour Lothians MSP Sarah Boyack has today called on the Scottish Government to provide targeted and substantial resource to fix Edinburgh’s housing Crisis.
In anticipation of the City of Edinburgh Council declaring that Edinburgh is facing a housing crisis, Sarah Boyack MSP asked the First Minister to provide the resources and funding needed to fix Edinburgh’s broken housing market.
Commenting Ms Boyack said, “Humza Yousaf’s empty words at FMQs do nothing to alleviate the concern of the 5000 families living in temporary accommodation here in Edinburgh.
“With rents skyrocketing and families being forced out of Edinburgh the SNP Government has presided over a national failure in housebuilding.
“We need more affordable and social housing in Edinburgh, and with 84% of Scotland’s population growth being concentrated in the Lothians we urgently need the funding to address Edinburgh’s housing crisis.”
Lesley Anderson, Regional Director at the Scottish Procurement Alliance – which was crucial to the delivery of 567 affordable homes last year, including 193 in Edinburgh – commented on the city’s housing emergency.
She said:“The announcement of Edinburgh’s housing crisis is no surprise and a clear wakeup call that we need immediate action to empower social landlords to get social homes back on track.
“It’s a Scotland-wide problem. By providing better funding and cutting the red tape, we can enable associations to deliver quality, community-driven social housing.
“With a raft of head winds facing the housing sector at the moment, Scotland’s Housing to 2040 vision will be a major challenge to achieve.
“Other regulations and aspirations aren’t helping the cause. With the uncertainty of the proposed Scottish Passivhaus equivalent standard from December 2024, adding to the hefty load the sector is already carrying.
“Recent rent freezes, soaring prices, inflationary pressures, skills shortages and sustainability of contractors have all played a part in the reduction of new build development and existing unoccupied social housing.
“Housing providers across Scotland need more support and guidance if they are to have any chance of meeting government-led targets and manoeuvre this crisis. “
A meeting organised by Sarah Boyack MSP with the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Michael Matheson, to discuss the delayed Edinburgh Eye Pavilion has left patients and campaigners even more concerned about its future.
At the meeting it was confirmed that all previous work on designing and building the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion will be wasted as a new full business case will have to be written, costing many more millions of pounds.
Michael Matheson also failed to provide clarity on the timescales expected for the new building, confirming it may not even come in this funding cycle.
Commenting Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said, “This flip flopping has been going on for too long. One minute the Scottish Government are committed to a new Eye Pavilion, next they are not.
“Michael Matheson’s failure to provide clarity today will leave patients worried, confused and angry.
“It did not have to be this way, if it had been built on time we would have saved many millions of pounds and patients would not be left in the dark.”
Also commenting Sylvia Paton, chair of KEEP said, “While Mr Matheson assured us that a new Eye Hospital would be built at some point, we are very disappointed about the lack of clarity over when.
“The prospect of further delays raise serious concerns about the Scottish Government’s future commitment to the project.”
