Moat PC’s death reveals lack of emotional support
David Rathband revealed his disappointment at the lack of help available to him before he died. A charity tells Channel 4 News that a lack of emotional support for blind people is all too common.
The policeman who was shot and blinded by gunman Raoul Moat has been found dead at his home in a suspected suicide.
People had expressed concern about the officer’s well-being in the days before he was found.
Last Friday, Twitter users were alarmed by the tone of his messages – since deleted – on the social networking site.
Last year he told the Daily Mirror that he lacked support from social services and ex-workmates. He said he waited 10 months for any social services help. “I’m struggling to deal with being blind,” he told the paper. “Nobody came up and said ‘You’re going to need help.'”
But one charity contacted by Channel 4 News said that PC Rathband had been one of their clients. Northumberland County Blind Association (NCBA) said that the officer was using their rehabilitation service in the period following his sight loss.
Ken Brown, NCBA’s chair, said PC Rathband had been referred to the charity’s rehabilitation service after being assessed. But after PC Rathband completed the rehabilitation programme he chose not to continue to use the organisation’s services.
Mr Brown said the organisation’s sympathies were with PC Rathband’s family.
The chief constable of Northumbria Police said the force was working with PC Rathband on a support package, a welfare package and medical care provision.
According to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), reactions to a sensory loss, especially sight, can resemble reactions to bereavements. Sight loss is also associated with a higher than normal risk of depression.
There is also evidence that many people who become blind later in life lack support. The RNIB has found that only 8 per cent of registered blind and partially sighted people were offered counselling by their eye clinic at the time of diagnosis and later.
The charity also said 20 per cent of people say that they do not receive any visit from social services in the year after they are registered as blind or partially sighted.
Fran McSweeney, senior manager of RNIB’s information and advice service, said social services should be the first port of called for anyone when they are first registered as blind. But she added that very often the responsibilities of social services falls on small, local charities like NCBA and there are often gaps where these charities do not exist.
Ms McSweeney added that there is a lot more that can be done to help people with the emotional aspect of their disability.
“Not enough has been done to understand the emotional impact of losing your sight,” she said.
Timeline: PC Rathband’s story
July 2010: PC Rathband lost his sight and was fitted with prosthetic eyes after he was shot twice at close range by Raoul Moat in the west end of Newcastle.
September 2010: Establishes the Blue Lamp Foundation to raise £1m to help the families of emergency service officers who are injured in the line of duty.
October 2010: Takes part in a walk along the Northumberland Coast to raise money for the Blue Lamp Foundation, just 13 weeks after he was attacked.
November 2010: PC Rathband wins the Pride of Britain Award.
April 2011: Competes in the London Marathon and crosses the finish line in 6 hours 49 minutes.
July 2011: Tango 190, the story of PC Rathband and his rehabilitation after Raoul Moat’s attack is published. Receives a special bravery award from the Police Federation.
August 2011: Officers were called to an incident at his home in Cramlington, Northumberland. He was understood to have been released shortly afterwards.
November 2011: PC Rathband announced on Twitter that he and his wife Kath were separating permanently.
1 March 2012: PC Rathband is found dead at his home in Northumberland.
“What we find is that people start off their journey trying to be positive, which is great. But by not acknowledging the emotional impact of losing your sight, people often find it difficult to move on.
“We sometimes speak to people who are blind for 10 years and are only just realising the emotional impact. It is important that they have help with that whenever they need it.”
Ms McSweeney added that there is a lot of social pressure on people with disabilities to be heroes and very often people who have been in the armed forces or the police feel that pressure even more.