A report by the Royal National Institute of Blind People highlights severe delays in providing essential support to blind and partially sighted individuals in England, with significant consequences for their wellbeing.
A report released by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has highlighted severe delays in providing crucial support to blind and partially sighted individuals in England. The investigation, which involved Freedom of Information requests to local authorities, revealed that 86% of councils are not meeting the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s recommended 28-day deadline for assessing a person’s needs following sight loss.
The consequences of these delays are significant, with over a quarter of local authorities causing individuals to wait more than a year for essential support, thereby increasing their risk of physical harm and mental health issues. In some distressing cases, delays have led to individuals losing their lives while awaiting help, such as a woman from Church Stretton who passed after an 18-month wait for an assessment.
The RNIB has expressed concern over the lack of regulation and monitoring of vision rehabilitation services, further contributing to these delays. Key figures within the RNIB, including Vivienne Francis, the chief social change officer, have called for urgent action from UK political parties to ensure that blind and partially sighted people receive the timely, emotional, and practical support they require. Personal stories, like that of Terry Quinn from West Yorkshire, underline the emotional and practical impacts of these service delays, emphasizing the need for better access to vision rehabilitation services to aid individuals in living independently.
The Local Government Association, through Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz, acknowledged challenges in adult social care due to chronic underfunding. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Social Care highlighted the importance of broader support for those with sight loss, referencing the RNIB’s Eye Care Support Pathway. The report calls for enhanced resources and staffing within local authorities to ensure that essential services are delivered promptly to blind and partially sighted individuals.