3rd Sector (Eye Care) Resources for Patients Covid 19

The sight loss sector in Wales has come together to produce an information
resource for those with sight loss during the Coronavirus pandemic. As a sector they
are rightly concerned that there are people with sight loss who do not have access to
information online. We want to get this information out to those people, who are most
vulnerable at this time and we hope this information might benefit those practices
that are open or for those who are closed and still in contact with patients, they could
signpost patients as below:
If you are contacted by, or contacting, someone with sight loss who is self-isolating
and may require assistance with tasks such as shopping or prescription deliveries,
the attached list contains contact details of organisations that can provide advice,
information or support in your area. Under each Local Authority there is also the local
society for blind and partially sighted people. There is also a list of national and
specialist organisations. This information will be kept up-to-date online
at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/coronavirus.php#local Contact mailto:richard@wcbccd.org.uk
with corrections or amendments.
In addition:
1) Stay at home message translated in a number of languages (including Welsh)
done by Public Health England: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-
19-stay-at-home-guidance
2) Covid 19 videos in a number of languages: http://hawaherts.co.uk/covid-19-
advice-in-other-languages/
3) More language videos: https://www.bradford.gov.uk/health/health-advice-andsupport/coronavirus-covid-19-advice/
I know these resources are England base, but they do have the resources,
manpower and probably seem more understanding of the issue more so than we are
in Wales.
IGA have also pulled some information regarding eye drops and Ramadan and could
I also share this with you and ask you to share this more widely. Every year this is an
issue and with Ramadan starting later this week, the more we could get this
message out the better: https://mailchi.mp/41c769a91847/wake-drops-eat-praydone?e=7e53cbb513
Another matter that the 3 rd sector have asked us to raise if that is that people are
missing their ‘urgent’ eye clinic appointments, as they feel it is unsafe to attend, but
by not attending they are creating a backlog within the eye-care and more
importantly risking loss of their sight. Sight Cymru have been trying to get the
message to people that it is ‘Important to attend their appointments and it is Safe to
do’ . Please do follow Sight Cymru Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/sightcymru/posts/ and share any such posts.