Associate Site: Northumberland

Low Vision Services Project

The regional hospital low vision service is based outside the county at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. The hospital provides vision assessment and some LVAs, but no direct social care support. Current waiting time for an outpatient appointment varies between 56 and 79 days, with a further wait of ~42 days for a LVA clinic appointment.

An Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) employed by RNIB is based in the department and provides advice, information and signposts people to appropriate services across the North East region.

It would be beneficial to patients if they could be seen within Northumberland. This has been recognised by the hospital service and they are supportive of a community based service. Rapid access to medical care will still be available when required. The RVI now has a dedicated Photo-Dynamic Therapy (PDT) clinic and Northumberland Care Trust has issued guidelines to primary care on referral criteria for this service.

This pilot project will enable a future low vision service to be based at strategic points around the county, ensuring accessibility and reduced travel for patients and users. A Rehabilitation Officer/Assistant will work in conjunction with an Optometrist to assist in the assessment and rehabilitation support. This will speed up and improve access to all services and provide timely intervention, rather than crisis management, which often happens at present.

Information about how to access these services will be widely publicised.

Participating Optometrists would show commitment to the service through accredited training and the purchase of optical and non-optical aids, including a range of newer technologies. Continuing education and training would form part of the clinical governance plans for Optometrists.

Back to Associate Pilots