I punched the air when I heard about new eye hospital plans

“I’m thrilled that money has been earmarked, what I would say though is we have been here before twice,” she said.

“I’m delighted that this has been said but I will just be hoping that there will be no change of policy in the near future before they get the work under way.

“It is a step forward though. I’m saying excellent but let’s just keep a watching eye on this and make sure there is no slippage.”

She added: “I’m very pleased that it has been acknowledged as it was built in the late 60s and at that time they had no concept of the numbers they would be trying to deal with.”

Ms Robison announced almost £200m to reduce hospital waiting times and increase capacity, provide additional support for GPs, and boost social care spending as well as funding more dental training places and more community-based support for teenage mental health.

However, she said: “It is not just the day-to-day resource spending that will increase though. We are also increasing health capital spending.

“That means I can announce to the chamber today that this Budget will fund the replacement of the Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh, the Belford hospital in Fort William, and Monklands hospital in Airdrie.”