Highlands and Islands Charity Hands Back Contract Due to Lack of Funding

That the Parliament acknowledges that the Highlands and Islands charity, Sight Action, will no longer be able to provide services on behalf of NHS Highland and The Highland Council beyond 31 March 2020; notes that Sight Action provides support and rehabilitation to almost 3,000 blind and visually-impaired adults and children; understands that the reason for Sight Action handing back the contract is due to there being no uplift in funding for the last 12 years, compounded by what it understands is a 10% funding cut in 2010-11; believes that the result of this will be that future services and support will not be carried out by low-vision specialist rehabilitation workers; acknowledges the view that statutory care in the community should be funded properly so that services, such as this one, can continue to provide specialist help, and sympathises with service users during this uncertain time.