Access to a blind concession TV licence has been improved for those with severe sight impairment in Northern Ireland following an agreement between the Royal National Institute of Blind People, TV Licensing and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB).
Evidence from a hospital consultant ophthalmologist, necessitating a hospital visit, was previously required to obtain the concession, but a letter from a community optometrist certifying eligibility would now suffice.
‘In a time of enormous pressure on our health and social care system, this community-based approach represents a practical, creative and responsive solution to assisting blind people,’ said Gillian Clifford, interim policy and campaigns manager at RNIB.
The RNIB are working with TV Licensing to make the agreement UK wide as soon as possible.
Professor Jonathan Jackson, head of optometry at Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast, said: 'Concessionary TV Licenses for those certified as severely sight impaired, formerly referred to as blind, have always been viewed by those unfamiliar with eye care and vision impairment, as something ironic. Why would someone who is blind actually utilise a television? The point is however that less than 5% of those certified as sight impaired actually have no useful vision.
'So whereas someone who is sight impaired may not see as much detail on a television as a fully sighted individual, they are able to get a lot of visual and auditory information.
'There have also been advances in accessibility, such as the availability of some programming with audio description. Television is a very useful way of staying informed, engaged and connected with society in general. This is really important, as in many cases social isolation and depression is a consequence of failing sight.'