Portsmouth South Flick Drummond MP is backing a campaign by sight loss charity RNIB to ensure that everyone diagnosed with sight loss receives practical and emotional support to come to terms with their diagnosis.
She attended a parliamentary reception hosted by The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), and supported by Blind Veterans UK, for the launch of RNIB’s new report ‘See the need’. The report calls for every eye department in the UK to have access to a sight loss adviser, to support people when they’re told that they’re losing, or have permanently lost, their sight.
Flick said: "It is vital that blind and partially sighted people receive quality, timely support when they’re diagnosed with sight loss. Without the right support available, people can be left isolated, and unable to live independently.”
Sight loss advisers can provide advice on everything from remaining in employment, to becoming more independent around the home, and reducing the risk of falls while out in the street environment.
Failure to provide early advice and support can undermine patients’ quality of life prevent people from leading fulfilling lives at home, at work, and in the community. Sight loss advisers can help people to develop the skills and confidence that they need to live independently. RNIB’s research found that 87 per cent of patients who had seen a sight loss adviser felt that they had been provided with the practical support needed to live with sight loss.
Major General (Rtd) Nick Caplin CB, Chief Executive of Blind Veterans UK, said: “Blind Veterans UK is pleased to be working in collaboration with RNIB to raise awareness of the needs of vision impaired people. Blind Veterans UK currently supports over 4,000 blind veterans and their families, but we know that there are many more vision impaired veterans out there who could be benefitting from our support, but do not realise it.”