A course to help eyecare and health professionals learn about sight loss is being launched in the New Year.
It is designed to ensure “no one leaves any practice, clinic or another setting without support, referrals and advice”, said Dan Williams of Visualise Training and Consultancy.
Funded by the NHS, the online training is available to eyecare and health professionals in Nottinghamshire. It gives them the confidence to assist people with sight loss and highlights how to refer patients for support.
Topics include myths and facts, eye conditions, the emotional impact of sight loss, accessibility, assistive technologies, mobility and sighted guiding.
Dan said: “Clinicians would often use medical jargon when talking to me rather than terms I could understand. There are many emotional and practical challenges when living with visual impairment, so I wanted to design a course that will raise awareness, knowledge and skills.
“There is often a fear of offending someone by offering assistance, but the skills gained by learners will develop the confidence to overcome this. Healthcare professionals are generally the first point of contact in a person’s sight loss journey so have a vital role in empowering patients to access the support they need to move their lives forward.”
David Cartwright, chair of Nottinghamshire Local Eye Health Network, said: “People living with sight loss often have great difficulty getting the appropriate advice and support they need to help with their daily lives and the early intervention that will help avoid other health issues.
“This training will help health care practitioners and others who have regular contact with people living with sight loss to gain the skills and knowledge they need to improve the lives of this significant group of people.”
To find out more email daniel@visualisetrainingandconsultancy.co.uk