Here in South Holland and the Deepings, 3,340 of my constituents are affected by blindness or partial sight. Nationally, more than 2.2 million people in the UK have sight loss, and due to an ageing population, this number is expected to rise to 4 million by 2050.
To never be able to see or see clearly is to face countless challenges, and to become blind, having once been sighted, can be devastating. Nevertheless, there is much that can be done to help.
Simple measures, like increasing the use of braille in public spaces, improving access to guide dogs, and removing obstacles from pathways and pavements, can make a world of difference. Those of us who enjoy good sight often take these things for granted, but for those living with sight loss, combined they can be a lifeline.
A few years ago, I took the opportunity to participate in a “blind walk” in Spalding, as blindfolded, I was led around the town centre by a specially trained guide dog. That moving experience offered me a fleeting yet powerful insight into the daily challenges faced by my neighbours who live with blindness.
Recently I met 'The Eyes Have It' campaigners. They explained that it is crucial to emphasise the significance of long-term planning for individuals living with sight loss and severe eye conditions. Above all, it is imperative that the government prioritises the creation of a new, comprehensive national eye health policy that directly addresses the looming crisis in hospital eye care. We urgently need more training opportunities for ophthalmologists, especially with the number of people affected by eye conditions projected to rise sharply in the years ahead.
Having given my full support to this essential campaign and remaining committed to raising greater awareness in Parliament, I have already taken steps, writing to the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, to explore further solutions to improve the diagnosis and prevention of sight loss and enhance the care and support available to those affected within our local community.
During my lifetime, there has been significant progress in the way in which we regard and respond to blindness. Years ago, who could have imagined that features like audible road crossings or tactile pavements would become so routine? I have asked Lincolnshire County Council to ensure that all road crossings are compliant in that way and pressed all our local authorities to look again at the issue of disabled access to buildings. These advances reflect a positive trajectory but there is still much to be done, which is why I am proud to support the 'Eyes Have It' campaign because the need for long-term planning to provide medical aid and support for the growing number of people experiencing sight loss has never been more urgent.
All lives are characterised by ups and downs, opportunities and challenges, but disadvantages are neither evenly distributed nor universally suitably addressed. By backing campaigns like 'Eyes Have It,' the challenge of sight loss can be made less prevalent and, for those who suffer from it, less onerous. This campaign, and my 3,340 constituents who suffer from sight loss, know that as I advocate in the House of Commons their ends and means, I stand with them and for them.
