Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust’s eye clinic celebrates 30 years

Life-changing service for patients with sight loss in Rotherham celebrates key anniversary

A life-changing support service for people diagnosed with sight loss has marked its 30th anniversary in Rotherham.

Eye Care Liaison Officers employed by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in partnership with the NHS, provide crucial emotional and practical support for people diagnosed with sight loss.

RNIB has employed an ECLO at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust’s eye clinic, now based at Rotherham Community Health Centre on Greasbrough Road, for 30 years. Since then, the service has grown to 130 RNIB ECLOs and by the end of 2024 there will be an ECLO in every major UK hospital eye clinic. Other sight-loss organisations employ a further 60 ECLOs.

Since 1994 the service has gone viral with now 130 RNIB ECLOs across the UK and by the end of this year there will be one in every major UK hospital.

The RNIB is also developing its Eye Care Support Pathway which will see patients being referred to ECLOs at different points in their sight loss journey, and our new Waiting Well service to check on patient welfare while people are waiting for appointments or support.

Supplementary News from RNIB

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has appointed its first chief technology officer, Linda Rogers. Her remit is to transform RNIB’s internal IT and technology and engage with tech leaders to champion inclusivity.