A DISTRESSED parent has waited months for the Royal Bournemouth Hospital to provide specialist lenses to her visually impaired son.

Laila Lock, from Ensbury Park, is an author and carer for her son who has learning difficulties, autism, and an eye condition.

Lawrence Silarbi-Lock is registered as partially sighted however, Laila explained that without his lenses, he is effectively blind.

The 33-year-old suffers from keratoconus which causes the cornea to thin. 

The lenses he needs are reinforced and push his eyes back into shape so he can have a degree of vision.

Laila complained via Bournemouth Hospital’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service team in November; however, the issue has not yet been resolved.

Lawrence lives in Bournemouth town centre with supportive care.

Due to his autism, he struggles to understand why he has not yet received his lenses and is becoming 'increasingly distressed.

Laila said: “The hospital is being very unsympathetic; they need to put themselves in my son’s shoes.

“Lawrence is so lovely; he is not the kind of person to get depressed.

“He has stopped eating and has lost about a stone in weight so far.”

She added: “He can’t do anything, he can’t read books, he can’t even watch TV.”

Lawrence is a very committed Christian; therefore, being unable to see on Christmas day was very upsetting for him and his family.

Laila said: “I feel very sad for my son.

“There is absolutely no compassion anywhere in the system.

“They do not understand how extremely dangerous it is for somebody to go from having partial sight to no sight, and they should be taking into consideration Lawrence’s special needs.”

A spokesperson for RBH said: “We are working with the family to resolve the issues they have raised and are doing all we can to get the lenses from the manufacturers as soon as possible.

“We are sorry that delays in obtaining the lenses have caused the family any additional distress over this time and will remain in contact with them.”