Low vision care under Westminster spotlight

New research on the current state of low vision and community equipment in the UK will be presented at Westminster next month.

Parliament’s All Party Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment will meet on July 12 to discuss low vision and community equipment for visually impaired people.

The meeting, organised by the RNIB and the College of Optometrists, will discuss how good services are for older people who lose their sight. Additionally, it will consider whether people receive prompt assessment by social services once their vision loss is diagnosed, and whether those affected are able to get the equipment they need to remain living independently and safely in their own homes.

‘Provision of essential services is highly varied across the UK,’ said a spokesman for the organisers, ‘leaving many visually impaired people isolated and poorly equipped to deal with the effects of sight loss.’

Speakers at the meeting, which will be held at Westminster’s Portcullis House, include Barbara McLaughlan, eye health consultant to the RNIB who will present the findings of the research, and ‘outline what needs to be done to move towards better provision’ in the UK.

Also scheduled to speak at the meeting will be Graham Price, chair of the community support network Sandwell Visually Impaired, and Lance Clarke, chief executive of the Surrey Association for Visual Impairment.

The meeting will take place at Portcullis House’s Grimond Room, at 5pm.