Powys Eye Care Support
Service
Ceri Jackson
Director RNIB Cymru
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Powys demographic – sight loss
• Density and total numbers of people with a degree of sight
loss
• There are 5,173 blind and partially sighted people
• Some areas in central and south Powys have some of the highest
prevalence of sight loss across Wales and the UK.
• Level of sight loss exceeds the UK average, with some areas amongst
the highest 15 percent of UK postcodes in terms of sight loss perhead.
• Powys is dominated by a rural demographic, with the vast majority of
the county being classified as both “Rural Communities” in ACORN,
combined with high overall average ages and total numbers aged over
75
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The role of the Eye Clinic Liaison Officer
• ECLO service is currently provided in every Health Board
apart from Powys.
• Patients supported in the hospital eye clinic or via telephone
if a face to face service is not possible.
• Emotional support, signposting and information
• Wherever possible the service is provided at the point of
diagnosis and face to face.
• Integral part of the Welsh Government Eye Care Pathway for
Glaucoma and Age Related Macular Degeneration.
• Support the development and running of peer support groups
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What patients tell us
• 95 per cent of patients more informed about the
support services available to them
• 83 per cent reported reduced feelings of anxiety
• 86 per cent reported feeling better informed and more
confident to seek the next stages of support
independently.
• In terms of self-care, over 60 per cent were more
aware of their own role in managing and caring for
their eye condition.
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The impact of sight loss
• Older people with sight loss who live alone are three
times more likely to experience depression
• sight loss has also been identified as one of the top
three causes of suicide in older people.
• Older people with sight loss have 90 per cent higher
odds of multiple falls
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Social Return on Investment
• In an SROI Study of the ECLO service provided
at Singleton Hospital in Swansea, there was a
real financial return to health and social care of
£10.57 for ever £1 invested
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Next Steps
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Consulting partners
Joint project sponsors Bob Hudson and Ceri Jackson
Appoint 2 year pilot – recruitment in progress
Finding patients
Working with local partners and service providers
Evaluation
Initial focus on central Powys
Steering Group
© RNIB Cymru
Registered charity number /
Rhif elusen gofrestredig 226227
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Thank you for listening
Ceri Jackson
Director of RNIB Cymru
Ceri.jackson@rnib.org.uk
© RNIB Cymru
Registered charity number /
Rhif elusen gofrestredig 226227
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