Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has stepped in to help safeguard the charity Sight Action and has urged NHS Highland to find an alternative solution to funding cuts.
Concerns were raised after it was announced Sight Action’s services to blind and visually impaired adults and children would cease due to funding constraints.
The charity’s resources have become a lifeline for almost 3,000 visually impaired individuals across the Highlands and Islands, Moray and the north east.
In a letter to Ms Freeman, MSP Kate Forbes had previously raised her concerns over the contentious plans.
Ms Freeman has now pledged to raise the matter with senior management of the board and implore them to examine further options to safeguard funding for the vital service.
Ms Forbes said: “I recognise the importance of Sight Action, after a number of constituents spoke to me about it.
“I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the new chief executive of NHS Highland.
“I am pleased that Jeane Freeman has agreed to raise this issue with NHS Highland to demonstrate the importance of the charity. I hope this matter can now be resolved as quickly as possible.”
For the last 12 years, the charity has received no increase in funding, which has placed strains on the range of services it can offer.
The health board had proposed to provide the service in-house by allowing occupational therapists to take on the work.
But the move was criticised by the charity which claimed they “do not hold the necessary qualifications to continue offering such provisions” with more than 1,300 people signing an online petition opposing the plans.
The proposals have been criticised on a cross-party basis and the campigners believe the tide is turning in their favour with the intervention of Ms Freeman.
Gillian Mitchell, executive manager for Sight Action in the Highlands and Western Isles said: “I am very reassured that the ongoing issues around provision of statutory low vision services in Highland have been taken seriously. I must thank the secretary for her help and intervention. Sight Action are hopeful that these issues can be resolved and that our clients will receive the specialised service that they deserve on the 1st of April 2020.”
