The Royal National Institute for the Blind is spending about £80,000 worth of Government cash on the 18-month-long project run by Doncaster Primary Care Trust.

The funding has allowed former Patient Advice and Liaison Service assistant Laura Taylor to work full time on researching and developing primary care services for sight-impaired patients.

A key part of Laura's work is to collect information on what barriers prevent people with sight problems from accessing help in the community.

She will also be finding out where primary care professionals and staff in other local agencies are getting it right.

Laura has been talking to patients and support groups for their feedback.

The project will also involve basic awareness training for frontline health staff and other events to increase awareness of sight impairment and warning people with normal vision of the importance of looking after their eyes.

A special resource pack will also be launched early next year bringing together useful advice and information, which will be distributed in various formats including large print, audio and Braille, and kept updated.

Laura said Doncaster has 2,500 people registered blind or partially-sighted but the actual number of people affected is thought to be much higher.

She said: "I don't think people who have sight realise what it's like for those who don't and small things like the way they speak to someone who is blind can have an impact.

"The aim is to build on what we're doing well here and then share the lessons we've learned in Doncaster with other areas. It's a very exciting project and I'm really enjoying my involvement."

Laura is keen to hear from anyone who would like to share their experience of living with sight loss. Contact her by emailing laura.taylor@doncasterpct.nhs.uk or on 01302 768550.

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