Edinburgh's eye hospital to reopen by end of June

The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion closed in 28 October for temporary repair work

Edinburgh's eye hospital will fully reopen by the end of June following urgent repairs, health bosses have said.

The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion closed on 28 October for two leaking copper waste pipes to be repaired and asbestos removed from the building.

A phased return to the Chalmers Street building will begin on 19 May with services expected to be back in place six weeks later.

Inpatient services and day surgery appointments were moved to St John's Hospital in Livingston during the closure, while emergency ophthalmology care was treated at a temporary home in the nearby Lauriston Building.

The hospital was deemed unfit for purpose in 2015.

The cost to replace the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion has since been put at £123m.

In December Finance Secretary Shona Robison told MSPs the Scottish government would fund a replacement.

Campaigners at the time told BBC Scotland News they welcomed the announcement with one saying she punched the air with joy.

Jim Crombie, NHS Lothian deputy chief executive, said: "We are really grateful to our patients for their understanding while the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion has been temporarily closed, recognising the additional stress and inconvenience this may have caused."

"We welcome the feedback we have received from patients and their families, which we have been able to use to help support our plans for the return to the building.

"I would like to reassure patients, as we prepare to move services back, that they do not need to do anything.

"They will continue to be notified of where any appointments are taking place."