Norman Lamb MP

Minister of State for Care and Support

Department of Health

Richmond House

79 Whitehall

SW1A 2NS

Ref: ML.C0044.CM.01.11.13

Date: 1^st November 2013

Dear Norman,

New research, commissioned by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), shows that although care and support for all adults with a physical disability  is on the decline, people with visual impairments have been the worst affected. They estimate that up to 25,000 fewer people with sight loss are now getting any professional support, home help or even basic rehabilitation and training in the use of aids and specialist equipment, compared with eight years ago.

23,000 people lose their sight every year; invariably this has a devastating impact – requiring individuals to re-learn pretty much every aspect of their lives. In light of the forthcoming Care Bill and the call for evidence on draft eligibility criteria for the new adult social care framework, my constituents are therefore keen that the situation improve for all those who are blind or partially sighted.

The RNIB’s suggests that all newly blind and partially sighted people should be offered rehabilitation and re-enablement services to help get back on their feet after first being diagnosed; this shouldn’t be limited to just six weeks, as often longer is required to gain the new skills needed to remain independent. Rehabilitation is excellent where it works, but it doesn’t give blind people their sight back and many visually impaired people with ongoing care needs are looking to the Government to improve the assessment and eligibility framework in order that it better reflects the unique challenges they face. This means ensuring that people who require help with completing domestic routines, for example, stand a better chance of accessing adequate quality care and support to meet their substantial needs.

I hope you will consider these points and respond, so that I can let my constituents know what the Government plans to do to help blind and partially sighted people get the care and support they need.

Yours sincerely,