RNIB Cymru chief welcomes 'Reality Check' at Minister of Business and Budget's 'Sight Loss Summit'
08.12.10
Sarah Rochira, Head of RNIB Cymru has welcomed the ‘reality check’ of a consultation meeting between Minister for Business and Budget Jane Hutt and leading members of the sight loss community, in Cardiff this week.
Hosted by CVV (Cardiff Vales and Valleys) formerly Cardiff Institute for the Blind, and RNIB Cymru, the event was part of the Minister’s CommunityCounts consultation tour of Wales to hear the views of people ahead of the next round of spending cuts in public services.
Sarah Rochira said: “Life for people with sight loss is already hard and challenging enough without cutbacks; it is encouraging that the Minister took the time to meet with us to hear the huge problems our members are facing.”
“We are encouraged by WAG’s commitment to protecting the social care sector from cuts, but when you drill down to local authority level, and then to the level of personal everyday lives, the positive words at government level do not always translate into reality at grass roots,” said Sarah Rochira.
Personal concerns raised included the time lag between people being diagnosed with sight loss and receiving benefits and support, which delegates said can take a year.
Local transport problems were also raised as a major problem for people with sight loss, with the axing of a taxi voucher scheme in Ceredigion being highlighted.
“Although the government has vowed to protect concessionary fares, the reality is that the bus services are frequently patchy, people cannot afford transport to catch the bus, and even community transport schemes are only local and leave communities isolated and people with sight loss virtual prisoners in their own homes. We were encouraged that the Minister expressed concern over our experiences and thank her for her support,” said Sarah Rochira.