Michael Tomlinson met with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) at a parliamentary reception to hear about the charity’s Sight Loss Advice Service and the vital work that Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) carry out.
Statistics show that calls to RNIB focused on emotional support are set to triple, increasing from 2,021 calls in 2016 to a projected 7,000 calls in 2019. Questions around emotional support are one of the top three reasons why people spoke to the advice line in 2018 and is expected to remain in the top three for 2019.
ECLOs work alongside health professionals in eye clinics to offer support and advice to blind and partially sighted people on a range of areas. They are an important part of RNIB’s Sight Loss Advice Service, which provides practical advice and emotional support over the phone, as well as face to face in eye clinics, for anyone affected by sight loss.
Michael said: "I am supporting RNIB's drive to raise awareness of the importance of practical and emotional advice for blind and partially sighted people.
“I’ve heard about the fantastic work that ECLOs carry out but am very concerned that people living with sight loss in Dorset aren’t currently able to access an ECLO service.”
