Sight loss support delays in London 'unacceptable' says RNIB

Charmaine Ashpole lost almost all of her sight suddenly, following an illness six years ago.

People with visual impairments in London are facing "unacceptably long waiting times" for assessments, a charity has said.

The Royal National Institute of Blind people (RNIB) reported that eight councils in the capital have waiting lists of over a year.

The Department for Health said local authorities are responsible for sight loss support and rehabilitation.

London Councils also said it was a matter for individual boroughs.

The RNIB's research found that from 2022 to 2023, 19 London councils missed the 28-day recommended deadline to offer support.

The charity said its findings, gathered using Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, reveals that those with visual impairments are being let down by "a forgotten, under-resourced social care service, operating without scrutiny and with a patchwork provision of care."

Charmaine Ashpole, from Brent, lost almost all of her sight suddenly following a stroke six years ago.

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The mother-of-two told the BBC that she had to wait five months for "vision rehabilitation", a service provided by local authorities to help people rebuild their lives after sight loss.

Ms Ashpole said that following the programme she was able to go out with a white cane, navigate public transport and utilise braille, which was "an absolute game changer".

"If I'd had to wait longer I think then you're wondering who is supporting you, who cares?

"So then you've got a whole host of mental heath ramifications coming on top of the grief of having lost your eyesight which is just a terrible place for any person to be in," she said.

Councillor Neil Nerva, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care at Brent Council said: "There is a national shortage of sight loss professionals, which has significantly impacted the service available to residents and led to longer waiting times.

"The council is working extremely hard to prioritise urgent cases to ensure the limited support goes where it is most needed first.

"Brent Council is taking proactive action to recruit permanent professional staff," he said.

Learning to use a white cane is one part of the rehabilitation councils should offer within 28 days of someone suffering sight loss

The RNIB says that while the Local Government and Social Care ombudsman recommends a 28-day deadline to offer support following eye sight loss, in London on average:

• Four councils were taking between 3 - 4 months

• Seven councils were taking 7 - 12 months

• Eight councils were taking more than a year

The charity said that vision rehabilitation services are the "only specially assessed adult social care services not to be monitored by the care regulators, such as the CQC, allowing delays to pass unnoticed".

Cyreeta Donaldson, RNIB's Regional Campaigns Officer for London, said: "It's completely unacceptable that blind and partially-sighted people in London are being left to wait for up to 12 months without the support they're entitled to.

"We are calling on the Government to commit to ensuring people with sight loss get the emotional and practical support they need, when they need it, so they can stay independent and live life to the full."

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