How council chiefs are helping more than 30,000 people in Hartlepool with impaired vision and hearing

Hartlepool Borough Council chiefs have been working on a sensory impairment joint plan for 2020-23 with the help of the Hearing Impairment and Visual Impairment Support UK charity.

The initial findings and action plan will be presented at a launch event on April 23 at the Centre for Independent Living in Hartlepool.

The Office for National Statistics estimates there are 17,472 people in Hartlepool with vision loss and 16,500 deaf and deafened people.

There are also 520 people with dual sensory impairment, and all three statistics are expected to increase by 60% by 2030 as people live longer lives.

It is estimated nationally just 10% of the number of older people with sensory impairments are known to local authorities.

Neil Harrison, head of safeguarding and specialist services, noted often people don’t come forward due to not being aware of the support available.

He said: “One of the issues is people don’t come forward and don’t tell us they have a dual sensory impairment, so we know of about close to 60 people, so there is another estimated 400+ out there who either don’t want to come forward or don’t know to come forward.”

Councillors on the Adult and Community Based Services Committee called for people to come forward so the council can provide help and let them know what is out there.

Coun Sue Little, chair of the committee, said: “We need to know so that we can offer them support so there’s no social isolation, there is help for them.”

Council officers said to date they have worked with a number of organisations and people who live with such difficulties to make Hartlepool a more sensory and deaf friendly town.

Mr Harrison said: “We will work to develop sensory awareness, skills and knowledge of health and care service workforces and the wider community.

“We want to improve access to information and communication support.

“We want to increase the number of people identified with sensory impairment, we want to raise sensory awareness and deaf awareness right across the town and we want to improve access to learning, leisure and fitness.”

Coun Stephen Thomas said statistics are ‘the tip of the iceberg’ but said the work ongoing is a positive step for the area.

He said: “The more people that can be identified the sooner services can be put in place to support those people, and the better for the quality and enjoyment of life that those people will have.

“I think it’s been a really good piece of work and I think once again Hartlepool is really at the forefront of the agenda in this area.”