Eye Clinic
Hospital Information Services originated a number of years ago. The support they provide at Eye Clinics across the UK enable people experiencing sight loss to access support and information and services regarding visual impairment.
Cardiff Institute for the Blind has been working in partnership with the University of Wales Eye Clinic for several years. The service has developed over time to provide a team of CIB volunteers who are able to give practical support and information on CIB services, and a professionally qualified Eye Clinic Link Officer. Being registered as blind or partially sighted can have quite an emotional impact on a person and although they will be contacted by a social worker, for some people it could be several weeks or longer. In some areas there isn’t a specialist social worker for vision and a rehabilitation officer will provide direct support.
The role of an Eye Clinic Link Officer (ECLO) is to provide a front line support service for visually impaired people and their carers, to be a point of contact for support and information and to be a link between health, community and social services. An ECLO must be empathic and have good listening skills. CIB has a room within the eye clinic (the Gareth Edwards Resource Room) where people with sight problems can find support and information on low vision services. The ECLO can refer people on to specialist social workers for vision where appropriate.
For people living within Cardiff and the Vale home visits can be arranged with the ECLO if preferred. Alternatively appointments can be arranged at Cardiff Institute for the Blind.
Providing a front line support within the eye clinic, the ECLO can explain the registration process, provide information on support services in the area or nearest area to where the person lives.
Attending such a big clinic in a very large hospital can be quite daunting for anyone with a visual impairment, even more so for someone elderly who may have other health or mobility problems, particularly if they are on their own. If a patient would like an escort, someone to stay with them during their time at the clinic, this can be arranged through the ECLO. It is also an opportunity for people with sight loss to find out more about other services provided by Cardiff Institute for the Blind.
The service provided at the eye clinic is fairly unique because it has both a team of CIB volunteers and an eye clinic link officer. CIB volunteers attend the eye clinic from Monday to Friday, and provide valuable support to everyone attending the clinic and also help with the overall flow of the clinic. The team wear royal blue polo shirts with CIB logo and they have the relevant training which enables them to support visually impaired people within the clinic and also be able to provide information on services that may be of help.
In 2003 Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust awarded the eye clinic link officer, the Chairman’s Quality Award.
In 2005 Cardiff Institute for the Blind’s Hospital Support Service underwent an external evaluation, funded by the National Assembly through Wales Council for the Blind as a project model. The evaluation found the project successful and a model for good practice. The project model has also been analysed to identify areas that would be common to different settings. So as to produce guidelines for use with volunteers in other eye clinic settings.
In 2006 the hospital support service celebrated its tenth year in partnership with the University Hospital of Wales. It began with a small team of CIB volunteers and gradually developed to the present model. The service at the eye clinic is fairly unique because it benefits from a team of volunteers and an eye clinic link officer.
The clinic staff value this service and are very supportive.
The Eye Clinic Link Officer is employed by Cardiff Institute for the Blind, who also provide volunteers and fund the project.
Providing this front line service has enabled many people experiencing sight problems, to gain both emotional and practical support and information on support services both local and national.
The link officer attends the eye clinic three sessions a week and the volunteers attend Monday to Friday.