Scotland’s charging system ‘in chaos’

Visually impaired people in Scotland are having to pay for basic
equipment because of councils’ confusing charging policies and
ignorance among professionals, a report by the Royal National
Institute of the Blind Scotland has revealed.

The report found that one in four Scottish councils expect clients
to buy their own large-buttoned phones and safety tin-openers,
while one in 12 expect them to buy their own white sticks.

Billy Watson, director of RNIB Scotland, said: “Present
arrangements for supplying and paying for essential equipment are
chaotic and incomprehensible to many professionals.”

He said the RNIB was calling for the Scottish executive to draw up
a list of equipment councils must provide free.

  • Buy Your Own White Stick from www.rnib.org.uk/scotland

More from Community Care

Comments are closed.