News archive for 2025
RNIB's verdict on the 10-Year Plan for the NHS
The UK Government has released the long awaited 10-Year Plan to reform the National Health Service (NHS) in England. The Plan outlines the details and proposals to deliver on the promised three changes which would transform healthcare across the country:...
Disability charity releases new film to improve eyecare for people with learning disabilities
Disability charity SeeAbility has launched a new short film for Learning Disability Week to raise awareness of how people with learning disability can get support with eyecare. The charity works to remove the barriers to eye care for people with...
A new community café operated by sight loss charity RNIB Scotland
Café VI serves a selection of sandwiches, cakes, hot drinks and other refreshments. It is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm. Located on Hillside Crescent, Café VI is an inclusive and accessible space, in line with RNIB Scotland’s...
Small grant award
Fight For Sight/Stargardt's Connected: Short Grant Award Fight for Sight and Stargardt's Connected are pleased to invite calls for early career clinical or research scientists proposing Stargardt’s research projects to collect preliminary or pilot data for developing competitive follow-on funding...
Blind West Lothian Man Set to Compete in National Futsal Final
A man from Armadale will compete in one of the UK’s top disability football events this month, after his team reached the final of the FA Disability Cup. Neil Atkinson (26) was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease at 17 – a...
Blind Inverclyde woman finds her voice
Claire Forde (29) from Greenock is no stranger to a microphone. Her journey into public speaking took a major step forward this year when she joined a newly launched Speakers Club, created to improve the confidence and communication skills of...
Patients “didn’t realise they had choice in receiving care,” finds new report on patient choice in elective eyecare
The current system of elective care is struggling to inform patients of their rights to choose healthcare providers and procedures, and offering little information or support when decisions need to be made, according to a new report. The report, Patient...
RNIB appoints Sir Jim Harra as new Vice Chair
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has appointed Sir Jim Harra to take up the roles of Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Governance, Nominations and Remuneration Committee. Jim was previously a Permanent...
ABDO updates Level 2 Child Safeguarding with Ofqual accreditation
The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has launched an updated ABDO CPD Child Safeguarding Level 2 course this month, accredited by Ofqual. The qualification is designed to enhance professionals’ understanding and implementation of child safeguarding practices within the optical...
ABDO awards presented at graduation and prize giving ceremony
The president of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), Kevin Gutsell, presented six special awards at the Association's recent graduation and prize giving ceremony held at Canterbury Cathedral. ABDO Life Membership was awarded to Fiona Anderson, SMC (Tech), BSc...
More Than Just a Call: RNIB’s Talk and Support Groups combatting loneliness
Every Thursday at 11am, something quietly powerful happens across Scotland. Phones ring, voices chime in, and a group of blind and partially sighted people connect for an hour that’s full of laughter and real talk. It’s an RNIB Talk and...
Study flags evidence gaps in AI eye imaging devices approved for patient care
Uneven evidence and poor data transparency revealed in review of AI as a medical device. A review of regulator-approved medical AI models in eye care has found that they vary widely in providing evidence for clinical performance and lacked transparency...
