Behind the Scenes with Talia, our Eye Care Liaison Officer
Our specialist Children’s Hospital Eye Department welcomed Talia Treen, an Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECHLO) 18 months ago. Alongside her arrival, the hospital created a room with bright lights and colour contrasts to help the young people she cares for be able to see the easier if their sight is limited. She also has accessible toys and colouring pens that use other senses to help too.
Talia sat down with us to talk a bit more about her role.
Coming from a retail manager and support worker background, Talia joined us to help families like her own, as her daughter is also visually impaired.
Her mum also lives with total sight loss and Talia feels if the role had existed when she was diagnosed, more support may have been available to help her quality of life.
Talia said: “I am so proud this support for patients is available. I am able to help after receiving families have received the bad news there is no further medical treatment available.
“Before my role they might have gone away not knowing what is support may still be offered and what the next steps are.
“Whereas now, I am here. I can inform them of education, emotional support, tips and techniques to keep them as be as independent as they want to be.”
Talia helps families to fill out the forms they might need for benefits. She also works with the children themselves to help them come to terms with their condition. She then helps to put things in place for patients to be able to access education easier.
She is now trying to share more about her role to raise awareness and potentially help mor children, young people and families.
There’s a wealth of information about sight loss on the Royal National Institute of Blind People website.