Blind charity speak out for City’s Rehabilitation service
One of the oldest charities in Derbyshire has offered their support to a campaign designed to prevent service cuts to Derby City’s Visually Impaired Rehabilitation Service. The proposed changes by Derby City Council will cut the service from two rehab workers to one, creating a significant reduction in the support offered to people with newly diagnosed sight loss.
Chief Executive of Sight Support Derbyshire said “I have been in touch with Derby City Council for the past month regarding this matter and am optimistic that we can engage with the council to protect a service that has a tremendous impact on the lives of our service users. We understand the financial issues affecting Derby City Council and are sympathetic to their position, which is why we would welcome the opportunity to discuss with the Council how to maintain a consistent rehabilitation service of sufficient quantity and quality. As providers of the rehabilitation service for Derbyshire County Council, we are hopeful that we can establish an innovative, cross-county service that ensures that people newly diagnosed with sight loss, throughout the county, are given the maximum opportunity to live full and independent lives”.
“Sight Support Derbyshire is a user led organisation and we have a responsibility to support our members throughout the city of to raise awareness of possible changes to their service provision”.
Richard Williams, Rehabilitation Worker for Sight Support Derbyshire, said “Rehab is one of the most effective services in reducing costs elsewhere. We work with newly diagnosed visually impaired people to enable them to travel safely and to live independently which significantly reduces costs to other interventionist services like the NHS or home visitors.”
Sight Support Derbyshire will join service users, volunteers and staff from the RNIB and Action for the Blind in the Market Square at noon on Tuesday (November 22nd). The protest will collect signatures on a petition opposing the cut which will be presented to the Council's cabinet meeting at 6pm the same day.
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