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An exciting initiative has been launched to set up local vision plans which will improve eye health and sight loss services in England.

EPIC (Engagement, Partnership, Information, Communication) is a three-year project funded by the Department of Health which supports the aims of UK Vision Strategy.

Worcestershire, North Essex and North of Tyne have been chosen as the first of 23 pilot areas that will develop local vision strategies as part of project.

Andy McGregor, optometric adviser for NHS North of Tyne, working on behalf of Newcastle Primary Care Trust (PCT), North Tyneside PCT and Northumberland Care Trust, said: "We are delighted to be able to work with our partners to develop a strategy that will benefit visually impaired people in the North of Tyne, and may also assist other local areas across the UK."

EPIC represents a unique opportunity for local organisations to join up local service delivery, pool resources, and develop innovative local delivery solutions that reflect local need. The commitment to this philosophy by the initial pilot areas is already evident with the joining together of service users, statutory and voluntary sectors.

Kathy Flegg, Primary Care Commissioning Manager at NHS North East Essex, said: "We see this as an excellent opportunity to work with a wide variety of partnership groups concerned with eye health to develop a strategy that will deliver and improve current services to be effective and sustainable for the population of North East Essex."

Jenny Gage, Chief Executive of Sight Concern, Worcestershire, said, "We are delighted to be selected. As a voluntary sector organisation we have long term relationships with many people affected by sight loss. They come to trust us and feel comfortable discussing the challenges they face, which puts us in a good position to advise and assist our partner organisations."

Anita Lightstone, UK Vision Strategy Programme Director, said, "The UK Vision Strategy is unique in uniting such a diverse range of organisations in a common aim. The EPIC Project will help to bring them together at a local level - where it really counts."

North Essex, North of Tyne and Worcestershire will begin planning their local vision strategies in February, and aim to begin the implementation stage by summer 2010. Opportunities for other local areas to take part in the project will be advertised during summer 2010 and in early 2011.

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The EPIC (Engagement, Partnership, Information, Communication) Project is a project funded by the Department of Health to support local partnership working to develop and implement local eye health and sight loss support strategies. The project will initially run for three years, until March 2012.

EPIC Project supports the implementation of the UK Vision Strategy, whose aims are to:

• Improve the eye health of the people of the UK
• Eliminate avoidable sight loss and deliver excellent support to those with a visual impairment
• Enhance the inclusion, participation and independence of blind and partially sighted people.

There will be an opportunity for 23 pilot areas to take part. The second stage of the EPIC pilot will commence in summer 2010, and the final stage will commence in early 2011. Ten pilot sites will be recruited for each round, 20 in total.

A Planning and Evaluation template has been developed in draft that will enable local areas across the UK to develop their vision strategy. The template will be tested by each pilot area and will be launched nationally in autumn 2010.

Copies of the UK Vision Strategy, Country Implementation Plans and UK Vision Strategy Action pack can be obtained from the UK Vision Strategy Website http://www.vision2020uk.org.uk/ukvisionstrategy/default.asp

For more information about the EPIC Project contact Celia Watson, EPIC Project Manager, on 020 7874 1368. Or email Janelle Heath, UK Vision Strategy Communications Manager at janelle.heath@rnib.org.uk