Adapting to a Life with Sight Loss
Hospital based Low Vision Services:
Ophthalmology outpatients can ask to be referred to the Low Vision Clinic for advice on magnification and lighting, this service also provides a limited range of free equipment.
Nottingham University Hospitals have a Low Vision Clinic in the Ophthalmology Department at the Queens Medical Centre (QMC).
Sherwood Forest Hospitals have a Low Vision Clinic at their Kingsmill site.
Community based Low Vision Services:
EMMS Healthcare provide a Community Low Vision Service for people living in Nottingham City. EMMS provide advice and equipment for people with low vision, devices are provided free of charge but choices are limited.
Refer to EMMS here: EMMS Healthcare
Health Harmonie also provides a Community Low Vision Service in the Mansfield and Ashfield area as well as the Newark and Sherwood area.
Additional Low Vision Equipment and Support
A wide range of equipment, advice and support is available from the Equipment and Advice Centre at My Sight Notts on Heathcoat Street in Nottingham. Advice, guidance and training are free and equipment is sold at cost price. For more information on My Sight Notts Low Vision Support, click here: Equipment and Advice Centre | My Sight Notts
Hospital Based Support
Some hospitals provide support for patients who have recently been diagnosed with a sight loss condition or have had a recent deterioration of a sight loss condition. Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) provide practical and emotional support to help patients understand their diagnosis, their treatment and condition management. They make patients aware of the range of support available to help them to adapt to a life with sight loss and maintain their independence.
ECLOs have time to spend with patients to discuss the impact of their condition on their life and will refer and signpost to organisations that can provide practical and emotional support for people living with sight loss.
My Sight Notts provides an ECLO Service in the Ophthalmology Department at Nottingham University Hospital, Queens Medical Centre Campus.
RNIB provides an ECLO in the Ophthalmology Department in Sherwood Forest Hospitals at Newark Hospital. There are plans to create additional ECLO roles in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Hospitals.
Contact details for Nottinghamshire’s ECLOs:
My Sight Notts’ ECLO at NUH: Chris White 0115 924 9924 ext 80553.
Email: chrisw@mysightnotts.org.uk
RNIB’s ECLO at SFH ECLO at Newark Hospital
Helen Cobbold. Email: Helen.Cobbold@rnib.org.uk
Vision Impairment Rehabilitation
Sensory impairment teams at Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council provide sight loss specific support, such as visual impairment rehabilitation. This is a period of training designed to help people with sight loss to maintain their independence through relearning practical daily and mobility skills.
Rehabilitation Officers provide training in daily living skills and after an assessment at home, can make recommendations for adaptations by the local authority. They can also provide a range of equipment designed to help people to adjust to a life with sight loss.
An essential aspect of Rehabilitation Officers role is to provide mobility training and long cane training; teaching people routes and skills which will enable them to navigate their outdoor environment safely and independently.
To make a referral to Nottingham City Council call 0300 131 0300, be sure to mention at the beginning of your call that the client you are referring needs support due to their visual impairment.
To make a referral to Nottinghamshire County Council’s Adult Deaf and Vision Impairment Service (ADVIS) call 0300 500 8080 be sure to mention at the beginning of your call that the client you are referring needs support due to their visual impairment.
Sight Loss Advisors
My Sight Notts’ Sight Loss Advisors provide a range of practical support for people with sight loss, including daily living skills, advice on equipment, technology, and a range of person centred solutions based on the needs of the individual.
To learn more about the practical support available from My Sight Notts, click here: Practical Support | My Sight Notts
Shared Vision Workshops
My Sight Notts offer a series of workshops that help people come to terms with their sight loss. Focusing on the practical and emotional effects, Shared Vision gives people who are having difficulty adapting to their sight loss the opportunity to share experiences and learn from each other.
The workshops include a wide range of topics covering all aspects of living with a visual impairment.
For more information on Shared Vision click here: Shared Vision | My Sight Notts
VI Life Hacks
Henshaws Knowledge Village is an online resource for people with visual impairments. The Life Hacks section demonstrates a range of practical adaptations and skills to enable people with sight loss to undertake everyday tasks safely and independently. Click here to find out more: Henshaws Life Hacks