Blind Veterans UK calls for GPs to signpost blind and vision impaired ex-Service men and women to its free services

A national military charity is calling for help from GPs and surgery staff to ensure that blind and vision impaired ex-Service men and women are fully informed of the support available to them in helping them to adjust to life with sight loss.

Earlier this year, Blind Veterans UK found that many of the veterans it currently supports battled sight loss for six years¹ or more before finding out about the services and support available to them from the charity. Because of this, and the estimated tens of thousands of blind and vision impaired veterans who are still missing out on support, Blind Veterans UK is calling for GPs to play their part to support veterans with sight loss.

Through the charity's No One Alone campaign, Blind Veterans UK is urging health professionals to ask patients with severe sight loss if they have a service history, and if so, signpost them to Blind Veterans UK.

Glynis Gillam, Welfare Group Manager at Blind Veterans UK, said: "Sadly many veterans don't realise that they are eligible for Blind Veterans UK's support and services.

"We currently help more than 4000 veterans and their families but we would know there are many more that could be slipping through the net. To help them access the support they need, we're urging GPs and surgery staff to check if patients with sight loss have a service history, and if they do, refer them to Blind Veterans UK. We are here and waiting to help them to discover a life beyond sight loss."

Blind Veterans UK is the national charity for blind and vision impaired Armed Forces and National Service veterans. The charity provides free, lifelong emotional and practical support to help veterans adjust to life with sight loss. Support and services include rehabilitation, training and equipment, all of which is provided through the charity's three centres in Brighton, Sheffield and Llandudno and a network of welfare officers around the UK.

Vital services and support are available to any Armed Forces or National Service veteran who is now battling severe sight loss, no matter how or when they lost their sight. For more information about Blind Veterans UK's No One Alone campaign, or to refer a veteran for support, call 0800 389 7979 or go to www.noonealone.org.uk.