Too many people who lose their sight are left to struggle without the most basic forms of support. It's often assumed that if you start to lose your sight a range of services swing into action. This is not true.
"At the begininng there was basically nothing - nothing at all. The eye hospital's (attitude) was 'You've got an eye problem. Bye. Sort it!' " Andy Stowe, Mansfield
Andy's experience is not unique. In fact a shocking 23 per cent of people losing their sight leave the eye clinic without even being certain of the name of the condition that caused sight loss.
How can you seek further information about a condition that you can't even name? Thousands of people get no support when they lose their sight - most receive no counselling and are left to cope with their diagnosis alone.
We will be campaigning to:
Make sure patient information in eye clinics, GP surgeries and hospitals is provided promptly and in a format the patient can read.
Ensure that high-quality information, advice and support services are routinely available to everyone who experiences sight loss.
Make sure that counselling and emotional support is available to everyone who loses their sight. This should include a spectrum of support, from peer support to counselling.
Show your support - Take action
Help us to ensure that information, advice and support is available to eveyone losing their sight by taking action now.
1. Write to the Director of Commissioning
Ask them what they are doing locally for people losing their sight.
Your Primary Care Trust is responsible for managing the care provided by people you normally see when you first have a health problem. Your letter to the Director of Commissioning at your local PCT will:
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Highlight RNIB's Lost and Found campaign within your PCT
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Draw your PCT's attention to the new world class commissioning guide, 'Improving eye health services'
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Ask how your PCT plans to co-operate with your local authority to assess the future eye health needs of the local population and provide world class sevices for people with visual impairments.
Please return copies of any responses you receive to the Campaigns Team, 105 Judd Street, London, WC1H 9NE or email campaign@rnib.org.uk. Please ensure you indicate your name and the name of your PCT at the top of the response slip before you send your letter to your PCT. This will help us to track responses.
2. Ask for accessible information from your eye clinic, GP surgery or hospital
Those of us who regularly get our health information in a format we cannot read have a simple task - to tell the NHS services we use that we need accessible information. Find out more about campaigning for accessible health information.
3. Keep up to date with the campaign
Join the campaign supporters network to receive updates on campaign progress and actions you can take as the campaign develops. Contact the campaigns hotline on 020 7391 2123 or email campaign@rnib.org.uk with your contact details and preferred format.
4. Find out what's happening where you are
RNIB's Regional Campaigns Officers are working locally to support the campaign in targeted areas and can offer advice on how to campaign locally on a variety of issues. Find contact details for your Regional Campaigns Officer.
Related information
For further information about the Lost and Found report please contact RNIB campaigns team on 020 7391 2123 or campaigns@rnib.org.uk