MSP Rhoda Grant in bid to save sight charity

NORTH MSP Rhoda Grant has tabled a motion for debate in the Scottish Parliament in a bid to save a charity that supports blind and visually impaired people, saying she is concerned about NHS Highland funding cuts and a redesign of services.

Sight Action provides support and rehabilitation services to blind and visually impaired adults and children in the Highlands and Western Isles. These include home visits, specialised mobility lessons and help with assistive aids and equipment, as well as emotional support.

It was indicated to Mrs Grant at the end of last year that Sight Action’s services to almost 3000 blind or visually impaired adults and children will not continue past the end of March 2020 as NHS Highland is unable to uplift funding – even though Sight Action has had no uplift in funding for the past 12 years, compounded, she believes, by a 10 per cent cut in funding in 2010/11.

Mrs Grant, a Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: “My primary concern is with the 3000 people who will be affected by this. Sight Action offers an invaluable service to these people as it provides not only physical and practical help but also emotional support.”

Some service users have taken part in a survey conducted by Sight Action in which they were asked what the impact would be if these services were removed. One said they would be devastated if they had nobody local that they knew.

Another said removing the support would be so detrimental and they would be lost without such a committed and local service. Another anonymously said they would feel totally isolated as they know of no other organisation in the Highlands that offers practical support on how to live life without sight.

Mrs Grant added: “The service users and I want this charity to be saved. I am concerned about what level of service will be available after March 31 and we need to ensure service users receive the same amount of care and support."

David Park, chief officer for NHS Highland, said: “NHS Highland have been in discussion with Sight Action since October 2019 about extending their contract to provide sensory services within the Highland area. Sight Action have since informed us that they no longer wish to extend the contract.

"We are now working to put interim arrangements in place to ensure continuity of service until a longer-term solution is established. We would welcome dialogue with Sight Action should they wish to reconsider their decision.”

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