Deborah Dunleavy, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Bolton North East lends support to local blind and partially sighted people

On 5 March, Deborah Dunleavy, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Bolton North East, spent the morning at the offices of Bolton CVS, talking to blind and partially sighted people from her constituency, as well as staff from RNIB and Bolton Society for the Blind about how services for blind and partially sighted people can be improved locally and nationally. 

Ms Dunleavy had the chance to find out more from local blind and partially sighted people about the everyday challenges they face.  Everyday equipment used by people with sight loss including talking clocks and book lights was on display for Ms Dunleavy to try out.  She also heard personal testimonies of the difficulties people face when losing their sight such as depression and feelings of isolation. 

Bolton Society for the Blind and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), have come together under the banner of the UK Vision Strategy to call for a higher priority for eye care services, improved support for people losing their sight and greater access to services.  

With an ageing population, the number of people in Bolton with a sight problem is set to significantly increase, placing increased demand not only on local eye care services but also on rehabilitation services provided by the local authority.  Health and social care agencies will need to work together to plan how future services will meet this increased demand. 

Whilst half of all sight loss is preventable, far too many people in Bolton are not having a regular eye test.  More needs to be done to increase the proportion of the population having a regular eye test.  This could save the sight of literally thousands of people in Bolton.  Health agencies in Bolton also need to ensure that once diagnosed, people receive the treatment they need in order to save their sight. 

Working together, we need to ensure that Bolton is an area that is welcoming to blind and partially sighted people, where people with sight loss can travel round safely, and that new urban developments are designed with the needs of blind and partially sighted people in mind. 

Ms Dunleavy said, "Talking to local blind and partially sighted people has given me a greater understanding of the day-to-day challenges they face and where the gaps in services lie.  Only by working together can we ensure that support is available to allow people with sight problems to live independently."