RNIB comment on Prime Minister’s commitment to fix the broken social care system in England.
Any reforms must include vital and important but lesser-known types of social care for blind and partially sighted adults, says charity.
Mike Wordingham, RNIB’s Head of Policy who has sight loss said:
“Vision rehabilitation is a vital social care programme of support funded through local authorities. Whilst support is patchy and variable, when it works well, it enables blind and partially sighted people to build the skills to move around safely, adapt their workplaces, continue to support their families and enjoy their hobbies when their sight deteriorates. Currently it's a hidden service, flying under the radar at the crossover between health and social care, and plagued by ongoing delays, underfunding and staffing gaps.
“Properly resourced vision rehabilitation supports blind and partially sighted people to thrive by developing the skills we need to keep ourselves safe, to find or stay in work, and live independently. Further delays to reform of vision rehabilitation risks putting the lives of thousands of people with sight loss on pause by not providing us with the vital support we need to live the lives we choose.
“For every £1 spent on early vision rehabilitation intervention can save the government up to £9.33. Properly resourcing vision rehabilitation would also help the government meet its ambition of keeping more disabled people in work and economically active.”