RNIB responds to pandemic publication

Lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic must better consider the needs and rights of blind and partially sighted people, according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

The charity responded to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s publication of its report and noted the clear, systemic failures from government to learn or act on the experience of previous virus outbreaks when these needs were raised as a concern.

Matt Stringer, RNIB’s CEO, pictured above, said: ‘We urge the UK government and devolved administrations as identified in the report to implement today’s recommendations at pace.

'It’s also vital that they urgently improve their understanding of the effects of sensory loss and account for this in policymaking and future pandemic readiness planning.’