Bye bye BD8

Progress Report

Carl Freeman & Richard Cox

Workshop overview

Why change?

Overview of the new system

How it affects individuals

How it affects organisations

Current state of play

Discussion.

What was the BD8 for?

The BD8 was intended to: Identify those with little or no sight and a

starting point for servicesValidate serious visual impairmentAct as a passport to services and benefitsCollect statistics to aid with planning.

What were the problems?

Long identification process Optician - GP - Eye Clinic - BD8 - Social Services

- Support

Help often needed before registrationTerminology not always helpful - particularly label of “blind”Majority remained unregistered limited value in planning terms

Emotional Impact often unrecognised.

A snake with few ladders

© Richard Cox

Dept of Health review

Review October 2001 - August 2002.

Examined how people with failing sight are identified & access help & support

Review group made up of voluntary, professional & statutory bodies

Articles in journals, open consultation via government website.

Review participants

Association of Blind Asians

Service userrepresentatives

3 documents for timely referral

LVI - issued by high street opticians

RVI - issued by eye clinic staff

CVI - issued by ophthalmologists

3 ways to access social care.

LVI

Self-referral letter issued by optometrists to people with uncorrectable sight loss

Developed locally based on national template containing: information and details of how to obtain

social care assessment and/or supportonus on individual to send in the form.

RVI

Referral for social care assessment from the eye clinic – not dependent on eligibility or “willingness” to register Includes comment on “urgency” of required responseCan be completed by anyone working in the eye clinic (with patient’s consent)Copy to GP and user.

CVI

Certificate of eligibility to be registered – akin to current BD8 and must be signed by consultant ophthalmologist Also acts as “backstop” referral form for if

LVI or CVI not previously issued

Copy to Patient, GP, Hospital notes informs central statistics collection with tick

boxes for common eye conditions.

Snake with 3 ladders

© Richard Cox

RVI

LVI

CVI

New terminology

“Sight Impaired / Partially Sighted”

“Severely Sight Impaired / Blind”More “inclusive” and less misleading

No opportunity to change the underlying legislationSo 2 basic categories remain

Implementation update

Slow start

Transition phase

Some opposition

Some enthusiasm

How is your area doing?

Main implications for users

Potential for: improved “patient pathway”more timely supportavailability of help prior to registration

But may lead to:Unmet expectations of social care less incentive to register?

What should local societies do?

Promote & monitor the change over

Become “experts” in the new system

Share their expertise with all local stakeholders

Provide relevant support to newly visually impaired people at each stage.

What should SSDs do?

Become fully briefed on the system

Talk to the other stakeholders Local societies re including their details on all 3

documents Eye clinics re “localising” RVI & CVI LOCs (Optometrists) re arrangements for

distributing the letter

Print the LVI – a specific SSD responsibility

Train their staff (& eye clinic staff?).

Where to find out more

www.sightlossmatters.comGateway to (very long) Dept of health

website addressSource of more information & FAQShttp://www.dh.gov.uk/

PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/Optical/OpticalDocumentsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4074843&chk=q%2B1fLr)

Discussion

Happy to take questions and clarify issues covered

Do you think the new system represents a step forward in timely support?

Discussion on what ACTION we can take to make it work well.