Political opinion with Alison Bennett MP: Investing in independence - the value of vision rehabilitation

I recently attended an event in Parliament hosted by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). I got to chat to representatives from the charity, including my constituent Geoff from Haywards Heath, about the importance of providing comprehensive support for people with sight loss.

We spoke about vision rehabilitation, a type of training delivered to help people with sight loss maintain their independence through relearning practical daily and mobility skills. This is a lifeline for those who are living with visual impairments, helps avoid them becoming isolated and dependent on others because of a significant reduction in their sight.

Despite this, the RNIB say that ongoing delays and staffing gaps are having a significant impact on the delivery of these services and they are concerned that local authorities are not currently equipped to properly deliver. 85% of local authorities are currently failing to complete vision rehabilitation assessments within the 28-day recommended time frame, whilst 20% had waits of over a year. This is largely due to difficulties in recruiting specialists to carry out these assessments, which has led to high vacancy levels and a greater reliance on non-experts.

This staffing shortage, combined with the fact that this service is not regulated and monitored like other adult social care services, has led to a huge variation in delivery and outcomes. This disparity is leaving thousands without the skills they need to live independently with vision loss, which can have serious consequences.

There is also a financial argument for improving the roll out of these services given that, according to the RNIB, early intervention saves £9.33 per £1 spent. Investing in these services allows blind and partially sighted people to thrive whilst saving money in the long term.

Now is the time to address the gaps and improve outcomes for people in our communities. We need to empower them to live independent and fulfilled lives, and services like these are key to achieving this.