News / New service for folk suffering sight loss
A NEW service offering grassroots support to blind and partially sighted people in Shetland is being launched on Thursday.
A new resource centre at Market House, in Lerwick, will give advice on the use of vision aids and equipment to make life easier for people living with sight loss.
A new charity called Vision Shetland has been set up, which is looking for volunteers, and is holding an open day on Friday.
The launch of the local service is the culmination of years of work by former Brae dentist Phil Hibbert, and the late Ian Merrall, from Bressay.
Vision Shetland brings together The Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland (RNIB), NHS Shetland, NHS Grampian and Shetland Islands Council to help everybody in the isles who has a problem with their eye sight.
There are currently 80 people registered as blind or partially sighted, but Mr Hibbert said that there are estimated to be a further 150 to 200 people in Shetland who are suffering from significant sight problems
Mr Hibbert, who chairs the charity, said: “There are many people who wouldn’t be defined as medically vision impaired, but just through age, if nothing more, will have failing vision.
“There is a lot that can be done for them; they don’t have to give up knitting, reading the paper and daily things like that. There probably are a large number of people who could be assisted by what we are setting up here to help them maintain the ability to do the things we take for granted.
“The resource centre and RNIB’s vision support service are long awaited and a very much needed answer to that nerve-wracking gap between diagnosis of serious sight loss and prompt access to help and ongoing support.
“The aim of the service is to be much more readily accessible in a much more informal way instead of having to go through social services or the GP.
“The whole idea is to be available here for people as the first point of contact, and we then can advise what sort of help they would need.”
John Legg, director of RNIB Scotland, added that the new facility would help people come to terms with losing their sight and to go on to lead fulfilling lives.
To introduce the new service to islanders Vision Shetland is holding an open day on Friday between 10am and 2pm at Market House. Visitors can explore what the centre can offer people with sight loss and see demonstrations of aids and equipment.
The new service is funded by RNIB Scotland with funds raised by Vision Shetland. Any future funding needs will be determined by how the service develops, Mr Hibbert said.
Vision Shetland is keen to hear from anybody interested in getting involved in the work of the charity as a volunteer. Mr Hibbert can be contacted at Market House on 01595 743 900 or by e-mail philhibbert838@btinternet.com
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