Out of sight: The hidden scandal of vision rehabilitation services across England (RNIB, March 2024)

Summary

Thousands of people with sight loss remain 'Out of Sight' in the hidden scandal of vision rehabilitation.

Life changes after sight loss, sometimes overnight, often in dramatic ways. Done well, vision rehabilitation equips people with new ways to stay independent: to get out and about, adapt their work, shop and enjoy hobbies.

However, the reality is stark. 86% of local authorities in England miss the 28-day recommended deadline to explore a person’s needs. Threadbare services mean people wait without the support they’re entitled to, at risk of physical accidents and injuries as well as mental health crises.

The RNIB are calling on all UK political parties to commit to ensuring blind and partially sighted people get the support they need, when they need it.

Content

RNIB research shows that across England in 2022-23 blind and partially sighted people are missing out on services they are legally entitled to:

• A quarter (26%) of local authorities had people left waiting more than a year for a vision rehabilitation assessment and subsequent support.
• 86% of local authorities did not complete vision rehabilitation assessments within the ombudsman recommended 28 days, meaning nearly half (48%) of blind and partially sighted people did not receive their assessment in this timeframe.
• Nearly a quarter (22%) of local authorities have ongoing vacancies for specialist staff, and some areas have no vision rehabilitation specialists at all.
• A quarter (26%) of local authorities are using non-specialists to undertake vital assessments.
• Local authorities acknowledge they are struggling to accommodate the rise in demand for rehabilitation services and have uncertainty around the future of its provision.

Key recommendations

The RNIB is calling on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ensure all blind and partially sighted people can access the support they need to live life to the full. We need national oversight of services to ensure they are consistently delivered to the required standard. To achieve this, the RNIB are asking:

1. Commission the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to develop guidelines and quality standards, with local authorities having to report on these to government and publish annually.
2. Subject vision rehabilitation services to the same regulation and monitoring as other adult social care services. This could be done within the current legislative framework and by extending the remit of the Care Quality Commission. 
3. Recognise the skill and expertise of Vision Rehabilitation Specialists (and Qualified Habilitation Specialists) by making Vision Rehabilitation Specialists a regulated profession. 
4. Encourage better integration of services through strengthened links between secondary and social care settings, with a guaranteed route in to vision rehabilitation for everyone who needs it, whilst ensuring blind and partially sighted people are made aware of their rights and the services they can expect to receive.