One year on: a report on the Moorfields’ Patient Support Service

In December 2012, the Moorfields’ counselling service was launched as part of the newly established patient support service team. All patients attending Moorfields Eye Hospital over the age of 18 years were offered access to short-term counselling. This article considers patients who attended the service in the first year. Quantitative data relating to patients age, gender and ethnicity, as well as qualitative data are analysed. In particular, the authors reflect on the reasons that patients were referred to the counselling service. Visual impairment is associated with a higher than normal rate of depression. It is hoped that the themes that emerge from this article will reinforce the importance of psychological and emotional support for visually impaired people and for those attending an eye hospital.