News and reports

A brief outline of some of the themes and issues that patients have faced using Walsall Services during August 2023. Also, things that you can get involved with!

A brief outline of some of the themes and issues that patients have faced using Walsall Services during September 2023. Also, things that you can get involved with!

Packed with what we have been doing and going to be doing with messages from our partners.

Pop-up COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics are being set up in the Black Country to encourage people to come forward for a vaccine ahead of winter.

The community pop-up clinics are being hosted at a range of locations in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell, with no appointment necessary.

Anyone aged 18 and over who is eligible for an autumn COVID-19 or flu vaccine is encouraged to come forward as soon as possible.

Those eligible include:

• all adults aged 65 and over
• care home residents
• frontline health and social care staff
• those at increased risk because they are pregnant or have a certain underlying health condition
• unpaid carers
• household contacts of those at risk.

Walk in vaccines are available at the following locations over the next week: Wolverhampton:
• Park Village Education Centre, Cannock Road, WV10 0RA
o Tuesday 3 October, 1pm-7pm
o Saturday 7 October, 10am-4pm
o Sunday 8 October, 10am-4pm

Dudley:
• Dudley Market Place, High Street, DY1 1PQ, Friday 6 October, 9am-1pm
• Moor Centre, Brierly Hill, DY5 3AH, Saturday 7 October, 9am-1pm

Walsall:
• The Square, New Invention, Willenhall, WV12 5EA, Wednesday 4 October, 10am-2pm
• Sainsbury's, Reedswood Way, WS2 8XA, Friday 6 October, 3pm-7pm

Sandwell:
• Tesco, Fox Oak Street, Cradley Heath, B64 5DF, Tuesday 3 October, 10am-2pm
• Tesco, New Square, West Bromwich, B70 7PR, Sunday 8 October, 10am-2pm


Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “For some people, flu and COVID-19 symptoms are unpleasant, but for many, particularly those with certain health conditions, older people, and pregnant women, they can be very dangerous and even life-threatening.

“Vaccinations are our best defence against these viruses and remain the best way to protect yourself, your friends and family which is particularly important as we approach the winter months.

“Our pop-up clinics are a great way for those eligible for a flu or autumn COVID-19 vaccine to get vaccinated at a time and location that suits them, with no appointment necessary. You don’t need to wait to be invited if you’re eligible, just come forward as soon as you can.

“If anyone is hesitant about the vaccine or has any questions, the pop-up clinics are also an opportunity to speak to experts from the NHS in a private and confidential environment, so please do pop along even if it’s just to have a conversation.”

The pop-up vaccination clinics will continue through October with more dates and venues to be added over the next week. Please visit the NHS Black Country ICB website for more information.

In addition to the pop-up clinics, eligible people can book their autumn COVID-19 vaccine online via the National Booking System, or by calling 119.

Flu vaccinations are also available at a range of community pharmacies. To find a pharmacy near you visit the NHS.

To read download a copy.

On Tuesday 12th October 2023, we're launching a new clinic at the Clock Tower in the Walsall Arboretum. You'll still be able to have online therapy if you'd like, but if you prefer face-to-face therapy, come to our new centre. Unsure of where we are, we're based in the corner of the Arboretum on the main crossroad in Walsall (Clock Tower, Arboretum, Lichfield Street, Walsall, WS4 2DU).

The Positive Outcomes Project (POP) is a health and wellbeing service catered for young adults aged 16-25 in Walsall. We are here to create an accessible support network that is welcoming. We will mentor young adults by exploring challenges together and any issues that are affecting them. We will encourage better coping mechanisms and signpost to specialist help. This service is co-produced and designed by them, which adds ownership and creativity.

There are a few pathways to engage young adults in this service. The Hubs are a friendly, safe space, where young adults can drop in, socialise, and access the necessary support. We will be opening 6 Hubs in key locations across Walsall. These will host positive group activities which include a life hacks group, employability skills and many more depending on current issues raised. Whilst we are waiting for our Hubs to open, we will be using our mobile hub “the youth bus” to visit communities as a pop-up drop-in service. We
encourage everyone to keep an eye on our social media pages, as it will inform you if we are in your local area.

The website is an online directory which is accessible to everyone, it covers a vast number of issues and provides links and details of referral pathways. This can be used to signpost young adults to a wide range of local health and wellbeing services. Mentoring and 1 to 1 support are available via a referral through our website. This allows a nurturing approach with the young adult being matched with one of our mentors, who are trained to deliver health and wellbeing support. Our mentors are passionate about making a difference and changing lives. Our mentors will be present at the Hubs to motivate and inspire young adults. Sessions can be in person or virtually to ensure young adults are comfortable in engaging and get the most out of the service.

People in the Black Country are being urged to think carefully about which health service they should use during next week’s industrial action.

Hospital consultants and junior doctors are expected to go on strike for 72 hours next week, from 7am on Monday 2 October until 7am on Thursday 5 October, which will affect NHS local services. All health and care partners in the Black Country are working together to prepare for the industrial action and are asking the public for their support.

Emergency care will be prioritised, and people are being reminded that 999 and emergency departments are still the right services if it is a life-saving emergency.

However, for anything that isn’t life-threatening, people are being urged to use 111 online as the first port of call for health needs. People can also call 111 for help, advice, and signposting to the most appropriate service.

Pharmacies, GP appointments, walk-in centres, minor injury units and urgent treatment centres will continue to be available during the industrial action and can help people with a range of injuries and illnesses. People with hospital appointments should continue to come forward for the care they need and do not need to call to check if appointments are going ahead. If appointments do need to be rearranged due to strike action, patients will be contacted directly.

The NHS is also asking the public to play their part by taking simple steps during industrial action to look after themselves, loved ones and checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours. Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “Demand for NHS services remains high, and we expect them to remain busy and under increased pressure during the strike action taking place next week.

“Our priority is to continue to provide safe care for those who need it during the strike action,
however, it’s vital that people choose services wisely over this period.

“If you need medical help or advice, or you’re unsure what to do, you should contact NHS 111 online in the first instance, and they will direct you to the most appropriate service for advice or treatment. This could include your local pharmacy, GP or a local urgent treatment centre. “By ensuring you choose the most appropriate service, this will help NHS services to manage demand and ensure A&E departments can focus on treating people with serious and lifethreatening conditions.”

Dr Mark Anderson, Chief Medical Officer at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, said:
“The strike action planned for next week will bring substantial challenges to the local NHS,
particularly hospital services.

“Patients who have a planned hospital operation, outpatient clinics or procedures should attend
as usual unless they hear from their NHS Trust to advise otherwise. “By ensuring you choose the most appropriate service, this will help NHS services to manage demand and ensure A&E departments can focus on treating people with serious and life-threatening conditions. “We’d like to thank all NHS colleagues who are working tirelessly to keep services running over the industrial action.”

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. You can contact the service online or by calling 111, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Pharmacists can also offer expert advice on lots of common conditions such as coughs, colds, aches, and pains. To find your local pharmacy, visit the NHS website.

People should only call 999 if it is a medical emergency.

More than 440,000 eligible people in the Black Country can now book their life-saving autumn COVID-19 vaccine.

Eligible people can now book their COVID-19 vaccination online via the National Booking System, by downloading the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free. Eligible groups may also be offered a vaccination by their GP surgeries or other local NHS services.

Those eligible include:
• all adults aged 65 and over
• care home residents
• frontline health and social care staff
• those at increased risk because they are pregnant or have a certain underlying health condition
• unpaid carers
• household contacts of those at risk.

The annual flu vaccine is also being made available to these groups, with more than 700,000 people in the Black Country eligible for a free flu vaccine.

This year’s adult COVID-19 and flu vaccination programme has been brought forward on the advice of scientists following the emergence of a new variant (BA.2.86) and ahead of the winter period.

Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “It is important for those who are eligible to top up their protection, even if they have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.

“The NHS winter flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme provides vital protection to those eligible and their families over winter, keeping people from developing serious illnesses, and helping to minimise hospitalisations during busy winter months.

“So, I strongly encourage all eligible people to book their lifesaving winter vaccines as soon as they can.”

Engaging Communities Solutions (ECS) is an organisation that focuses on involving patients and the public in healthcare research and decision-making processes including the delivery of local Healthwatch. In 2019, ECS became part of a team led by Birmingham University to conduct a research project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The aim of the project was to evaluate the use of inter-organizational cooperation to bring about improvements in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.

As part of the research, ECS carried out a focus group and interviews that contributed the patient and public voice to the project that evaluated the use of inter-organisational co-operation to make improvements in the NHS. Fieldwork was disrupted by the pandemic which meant that the completion of the research was to some extent delayed, but the report has now been published by the NIHR

If you do not have the power to make certain decisions, a lasting power of attorney keeps those decisions with the people you trust.

Start a conversation today.

#YourVoiceYourDecision @OPGGovUK 

People in the Black Country are being urged to think carefully about which health service they should use during this week’s industrial action. Hospital consultants are expected to go on strike for 48 hours from 7am on Tuesday 19 September until 7am on Thursday 21 September. Junior doctors will be on strike for 72 hours from 7am on Wednesday 20 September until 7am on Saturday 23 September.

This means that on Wednesday 20 September, both junior doctors and consultants will be on strike at the same time. All health and care partners in the Black Country are working together to prepare for the industrial action and are asking the public for their support. Emergency care will be prioritised, and people are being reminded that 999 and emergency departments are still the right services if it is a life-saving emergency.

However, for anything that isn’t life-threatening, people are being urged to use 111 online as the first port of call for health needs. People can also call 111 for help, advice, and signposting to the most appropriate service. Pharmacies, GP appointments, walk-in centres, minor injury units and urgent treatment centres will continue to be available during the industrial action and can help people with a range of injuries and illnesses. People with hospital appointments should continue to come forward for the care they need and do not need to call to check if appointments are going ahead. If appointments do need to be rearranged due to strike action, patients will be contacted directly.

Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “NHS services are currently extremely busy, and we expect them to remain busy and under increased pressure during the strike action taking place this week.

“We are working closely with our health and care partners to ensure those in greatest need continue to have access to high-quality care and support, however, it’s vital that people choose services wisely over this period so that care is available to patients who need it most. “If you need medical help or advice, you should contact NHS 111 online in the first instance, and they will direct you to the most appropriate service for advice or treatment. This could include your local pharmacy, GP or a local NHS walk-in centre. 999 and A&E departments should only be used if it is a life-threatening emergency. “We’d like to thank people for their patience and their ongoing support by using NHS services appropriately.” Dr Jonathan Odum, Group Chief Medical Officer for The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “Ahead of the upcoming strike action, we are asking patients to please use NHS services wisely and to only use A&E departments and 999 for life threatening emergencies to ensure care is available to patients who need it most.

“We do expect there to be an impact on some appointments and clinics but ask patients to continue to attend planned appointments unless you hear directly from the NHS to make new arrangements. “We thank the public for their support, and we are also incredibly grateful to all of the health and care staff across the Black Country who are working tirelessly to ensure patients get the right treatment, as quickly as possible, in the right place.”