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According to a charity, numerous individuals who are blind or have limited vision are not receiving the necessary assistance following their loss of sight.
A recently released study from the RNIB, a charity that supports individuals affected by vision impairment, reveals that people at all levels of vision loss are being neglected due to an overlooked and underfunded social care system, resulting in a disjointed delivery of care.
Recent requests for Freedom of Information from local authorities in England have revealed that individuals with visual impairments are being refused access to rehabilitation services, thus hindering their rights.
Based on the information, a large majority of local governments, around 86%, fail to meet the 28-day time limit set by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman to assess the needs of individuals with vision impairments.
According to Vivienne Francis, the chief social change officer at RNIB, it is a legal requirement for specialized vision rehabilitation services to be offered by local councils or third-party contractors. However, our report obtained through a Freedom of Information request reveals that these services are completely unregulated, resulting in a fragmented system of care that fails to adequately support individuals with sight loss.
According to a report titled “Out of Sight: The Hidden Scandal of Vision Rehabilitation Services Across England,” more than a quarter (26%) of local authorities take over one year to provide a vision rehabilitation assessment and support to blind and partially sighted individuals.
According to the RNIB, these delays put individuals with visual impairments in greater danger for physical accidents and injuries, as well as mental health emergencies.
Rewording: Vision rehabilitation offers individuals alternative methods to maintain independence and engage in activities such as grocery shopping and pursuing beloved hobbies.
Many people who are blind or partially sighted are left waiting for more than a year for the services they need, preventing them from fully living their lives. This leads to inadequate support being provided.
Vivienne Francis, the main social change executive at RNIB:
The charity proposes that the lack of oversight for adult social care services, specifically those that are specially assessed, by care regulators such as the CQC may result in delays going unnoticed.
Ms Francis stated: “We are aware that local authorities in England are facing difficulties in meeting the increasing need for vision rehabilitation services and ensuring proper resources for the service.”
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“Insufficient services leave numerous individuals who are blind or have partial sight waiting for over a year without the necessary assistance to fully live their lives.”
In order to address this unseen inequality in social care, we urge all political parties in the UK to pledge to provide the necessary emotional and practical assistance for individuals with visual impairments when they require it.
Terry Quinn, age 59, residing in West Yorkshire, was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and declared severely sight impaired in 2019. He expressed feeling like a different person and experiencing hopelessness due to his condition.
I have never experienced such isolation and loneliness in all my years on this earth.
“I did not receive adequate assistance or guidance from the hospital. While they did fill out a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) form and said that the local authority would contact me, I never heard from them.”
I have never experienced such a deep sense of isolation before.
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During a regular visit to a Low Vision clinic, a kind lady noticed my difficulty and inquired if I had received assistance from the council’s Vision Rehab services.
“I responded with ‘absolutely not.’ She proceeded to make multiple phone calls, and soon after, a Specialist in Vision Rehabilitation contacted me. I was overwhelmed with emotion during our phone conversation and he agreed to visit me at my home.”
Mr Quinn was visited by the specialist a total of three times within a span of a few months. During those visits, the specialist provided him with valuable information, assisted him in obtaining a travel pass and concessions, and taught him how to effectively use a white cane for navigating steps at home.
He mentioned that he was briefly taken outdoors and instructed on locating a curb, and that was essentially all.
Mr. Quinn expressed that he felt unable to continue and would go to bed every night with the hope and prayer that he would not wake up in the morning.
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This report displays the consequences of insufficient funding, staffing, and support for providing necessary services to meet individuals’ desired lifestyles and preferences.
Kaya Comer-Schwartz, representative for social care at the Local Government Association, has urged the government to swiftly allocate funds in order to safeguard social care services.
“Unfortunately, I woke up and had to endure another day.”
After considering it for several weeks, I finally mustered the bravery to contact Guide Dogs UK as a final option.
Mr Quinn mentioned that he has acquired a beloved Guide Dog, which has greatly transformed his life by restoring his autonomy and enabling him to resume his travels.
Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz, social care spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: “Adult social care services have faced chronic underfunding for many years, but councils do their best for communities with the resources they have.
This report illustrates the consequences of insufficient funding, staffing, and support for providing necessary services that enable individuals to lead the lives they desire.
We welcomed the publication of the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s Eye Care Support Pathway, which sets out the need for wider support for those with sight loss
The representative for the Department of Health and Social Care.
A representative from the Department of Health and Social Care stated that it is the responsibility of local authorities to evaluate the care requirements of those with vision impairment and arrange services for rehabilitation support.
“We welcomed the publication of the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s Eye Care Support Pathway, which sets out the need for wider support for those with sight loss.
NHS England played a role in creating this development and has agreed to assist in spreading it to eyecare commissioners and providers.
The original source is the independent.co.uk.
