UK - The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is running a training day this October to improve GPs’ services for blind or partially sighted patients.

The one-day training course - GPs - missing the blind spot? - will be held at RCGP headquarters in London on Wednesday 13 October and co-hosted by the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB).

The event will enable GPs, practice nurses and other staff to help blind or partially sighted patients stay as independent as possible. Topics for the day will include the impact of sight loss on patients, family and friends, children with serious sight loss and local services available to help patients.

Dr Charles Sears, Chair of the RCGP Disability Group, said: \"Over two million people in the UK have a serious visual impairment and many are over 60 years of age. This figure is expected to reach two and a half million in the next 30 years, making it imperative that GPs and practice teams are aware of low-vision and rehabilitation services on offer to patients.\"

Health care professionals interested in attending the event should contact the RCGP Professional Development Unit on 020 7344 3124.

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For more information please contact Heather Whitney at the RCGP press office on020 7344 3137 or Dan Stern on 020 7344 3136 or email press@rcgp.org.uk.Out of hours contact number 07885 958632.

Notes to Editors

1. If Media would like to attend the event, please contact Heather Whitney in the RCGP Press Office.

2. GPs - missing the blind spot? will be held on Wednesday 13 October from 10.00am at the Royal College of General Practitioners, 14 Princes Gate, Hyde Park, London SW7 1PU

3. The Royal College of General Practitioners is the largest membership organisation in the United Kingdom solely for GPs. It aims to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and to act as the \"voice\" of GPs on issues concerned with education; training; research; and clinical standards. Founded in 1952, the RCGP has over 21,000 members who are committed to improving patient care, developing their own skills and promoting general practice as a discipline. http://www.rcgp.org.uk