Eye Care Liaison Service RNIB Northern Ireland
ECLO Service
Would you, or a person you know, like to talk to someone about an eye condition?
Do you, or does someone you know need some practical support?
Our Eye Care Liaison Officer, (ECLO) service, offers emotional and practical support at the point of diagnosis of an eye condition. This service is available at the 12 main eye clinics and through the 258 optometric practices (opticians) across the five Health and Social Care trusts of NI.
We provide an immediate point of contact for someone who is newly diagnosed with serious sight loss.
Supporting you
We offer:
- Emotional support at the time serious sight loss is diagnosed.
- Early onward referral to other services (statutory and voluntary sector).
- Practical information and advice.
- Accredited Visual Awareness training courses.
Giving you an opportunity to discuss:
- How you are coming to terms with sight loss
- Any concerns you may have.
Providing information and advice on:
- Benefits entitlement
- Appropriate services for you
- Training opportunities
- Your rights under current government legislation.
Supplying information on:
- Eye conditions
- Eye health.
Making contact with community services on your behalf:
- By assisting you in accessing services which meet your individual needs
- Providing a confidential service.
The ECLO Service exists to offer a point of contact for anyone seeking further help, advice or assistance at any time - just give us a call.
Visual Awareness Training
Our ECLOs also deliver accredited courses in Visual Awareness Training to health and social care professionals in hospitals and throughout the five health and social care trusts, in private sector establishments and voluntary sector providers.
This training is designed to equip organisations with the knowledge and skills to include blind or partially sighted people in all aspects of their services.
Our audio-described ECLO Service video on YouTube gives you a closer look at our ECLO service, and the real difference the service can make to the llives of blind or partially sighted people in Northern Ireland.
Contact us
You can contact your local ECLO either during the Eye Clinics across Northern Ireland, or via the following phone numbers.
If in doubt, just call the RNIB NI premises in Belfast and we'll be happy to point you in the right direction.
RNIB NI Belfast
028 9032 9373
Belfast HSC Trust area
Mater Hospital:
Adrienne Hull - 028 9032 9373
Royal Victoria Hospital:
Susan Caskey - 028 9032 9373
South Eastern HSC Trust area
Covering Ulster, Downpatrick, Bangor, Newtownards and Lagan Valley hospitals:
Lorraine McCadden - 028 9032 9373
Southern HSC Trust area
Covering Craigavon, Daisy Hill, Armagh and South Tyrone hospitals:
Diane Hudson - 028 9032 9373
Northern HSC Trust area
Covering Causeway, Braid Valley, Antrim Area and Magherafelt hospitals:
Eimear Barbour-Mulholland - 028 9032 9373
Western HSC Trust area
Covering Omagh, Erne and Altnagelvin hospitals:
Catriona Doherty - 028 7136 6060
Conor McPhilemy – 028 7136 6060
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Contact: ecloni@rnib.org.uk