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Sensory Impairment - "On the Agenda"

Workshops – The future – Improving Lives

Mike Cairns, Director RNIB Scotland

There are 2 million people affected by uncorrectable sight loss, 90% of those affected are over 60. In the next 30 years, 40% of the population will be over 60 years old.

The RNIB asked Visually Impaired people what services they receive, comments were;

• not getting the help they need
• they are waiting for years for services
• old people are told there is nothing that can be done for them.

The majority of people asked did not receive social services. They did not know if they were eligible because their needs had not been assessed.

Reasons;

- lack of information about eye conditions

- not told to register, few were aware of the benefits and services available

• low vision aid without review
• must make most of sight left
• Services vary widely throughout the country, Low Vision Aid clinics – some have services some don’t
• Links between health and social services are poor
• Charges vary widely

There is no local authority that provides the service for free, therefore, people stop using it because they cannot afford it and also case-loads are large.

Services are responsive: there is care at the point of diagnosis but nothing afterwards. Most services have social work contact but it is ‘patchy.’ Most sight loss is degenerative. There is only one assessment at the point of diagnosis.

Services are not delivered at a universal level of care. There are inconsistencies in the registering process. Assessments are service led. Sight loss leads to poverty, isolation and depression. The unemployment rate of Visually Impaired people is 80%. The unemployment rate used to be much lower due to the nature of jobs and the way people were supported.

6 in 10 Visually Impaired people don’t go out on their own;

• Emotional support is not available. They are told “someone will be in touch” but they wait for years for someone to visit.
• There are not enough staff in Health and Social Services.
• Early diagnosis, good rehabilitation and support can make a real difference. Low Visions Aids help give motivation and optimisim.
• Long term support and rehabilitation will save money. Residential and Nursing care is the biggest budget in Social Work. NHS is spending 25 million on rehabilitation and prevention.

Blind and Visually Impaired people must be involved from the outset,

• to help determine needs
• they are in the best position to assess different services
• most providers of health and Social Care Services have not been trained in Visual Impairment awareness which makes it all the more important to consult Visually Impaired people on their experiences.

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