What is registration?
After assessment of your eye condition, the hospital consultant completes the BD8 form, which certifies that you are eligible to be registered by your local council social care department as either blind or partially sighted. Normally the consultant keeps one copy, you receive another and copies are sent, with your consent, to the social care department, your GP and the census. This information is confidential and is not passed on to anyone without your permission.
You should note that the services of Bury Council social care do not depend upon registration and are available to anyone experiencing difficulties arising from sight loss. However social care departments have a statutory responsibility to maintain a register of blind and partially sighted people. Being registered as blind does not necessarily mean that the person is or ever will be totally without sight.
On receiving their copy of the BD8 form, a member of the visual impairment team from social care is required to contact you to discuss your registration and advise you of services and benefits available to you. Registration is purely voluntary and the Local Authority should ask you if you wish to be registered.
Registration is necessary to qualify for some of the services provided both by national and local government departments and to enlist the help of some voluntary agencies.
