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Diabetes is a condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. Type 1 diabetes is a rarer form of the condition, which is caused by genetic or environmental factors, and can’t be prevented. Those with type 1 diabetes require regular insulin injections for life to keep blood glucose levels under control.

However, type 2 diabetes is often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of type 2 diabetes, and the health implications can be serious and life changing. It is the leading cause of preventable sight loss in people of working age, as well as a major contributor to kidney disease, loss of limbs, increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Some groups are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes including: men, people of South Asian or Black ethnicity, people who are overweight and people with a family history of type 2 diabetes. Black and South Asian people have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes after the age of 25, compared with those from a white background where risk increases after the age of 40.

From next week, a mobile testing van will be at a number of locations across the Black Country offering free health checks for local residents. The bus is a walk-in service so no appointment is required and will be available between 9am and 5pm (times may vary by location). People are advised to arrive no later than 4pm:

Tuesday 11 June
Black Country Family Practice, Neptune Health Park, Sedgley Rd, Tipton DY4 8PX.

Thursday 13 June
Bently Bridge Car Park, Main Block (towards Cineworld). Wolverhampton, WV1 1BP.

Friday 14 June
Tesco Car Park, Marston Road, Wolverhampton, WV2 4NJ.

Wednesday 19 June
Dudley Market Place, Dudley, DY1 1JP.
Those attending can simply have a conversation about their risk of type 2 diabetes with a clinician or have a finger prick blood test for early signs of diabetes. Blood pressure checks, body mass index (BMI) checks and cholesterol testing is also available, all of which can be early indicators of developing type 2 diabetes. Depending on the results of your tests or your risk based on your conversation, you can be signposted to appropriate sources of help or to a healthcare professional.

Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “It's really important for type 2 diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible because it will get progressively worse if left untreated. Early treatment also reduces your risk of other health problems.

“Type 2 diabetes can be a very serious condition but there are lots of things you can do to reduce your risk of developing it such as achieving a healthy weight, getting more physically active and eating healthy food.

“For anyone who is looking to find out more information about type 2 diabetes or those who may be concerned they are at risk, please do pop down to the mobile testing van – it will be well worth a trip.”

The first step to preventing type 2 diabetes is finding out what your risk is. The Know Your Risk tool from Diabetes UK can also help you find out your risk. You enter information including your ethnicity, age, height, weight and waist measurement, and it will give you an assessment of your personal risk of developing type 2 diabetes and advice about next steps.

As we celebrate Volunteers' Week 2024, we want to take a moment to put a spotlight on and say thank you to our amazing volunteers. We are very grateful for the time that they generously give, along with their support and efforts, to help to create positive change within our communities.

Healthwatch Walsall held its public Independent Strategic Advisory Board Meeting on 15 May 2024 at Ryecroft Community Centre. We were delighted to be joined by Professor David Croisdale-Appleby the Chair of Healthwatch England along with Healthwatch Walsall staff, volunteers and members of the public.

The meeting was an opportunity for open discussions to take place about issues relevant to those present and it was a very interesting and informative session with a lot of interaction.

Please see photos from the event and if anyone would be interested in joining us at future public meetings the details for these will be on our website or we can be contacted on our Freephone number 0800 470 1660 and we will be pleased to let you have the information.

The NHS is urging anyone eligible for a spring COVID-19 vaccination to come forward now.

The spring COVID-19 vaccination roll out started in April, with adults aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults and those aged six months and over who have a weakened immune system invited to receive a vaccine.

Following advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), those eligible for a vaccine have until Saturday 29 June to book an appointment, with the last spring vaccinations on offer the following day on Sunday 30 June. Appointments can be booked via the National Booking System, the NHS App or by calling 119.

Pop-up clinics have also been set up across the Black Country, offering spring COVID-19 vaccines to those eligible on a walk-in basis. The clinics will be running until the end of June, with no appointment necessary. More dates and locations can be found on the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board’s (ICBs) website.
Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country ICB, said: “With people starting to finally feel the spring and see some sunshine, it’s easy to forget that, despite the winter being behind us, many people remain vulnerable to COVID-19.

“Having the spring COVID-19 vaccine helps those most risk, including the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, to maintain a high level of protection and helps prevent them from becoming seriously ill or needing treatment in hospital.

“If you are eligible and are yet to come forward for a vaccine, it’s not too late. However, there are only a few weeks left to book an appointment or visit one our pop-up centres, as the offer ends on Sunday 30 June.”

Pregnant women in the Black Country are being reminded to come forward for a whooping cough vaccination, as cases continue to rise.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs and airways. It spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems, especially in babies and young children.

Initial symptoms are similar to those of a common cold, including a runny nose and a mild fever. After a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that are often worse at night. Some babies and adults may make a ‘whoop’ sound and have difficulty breathing after coughing.

Mums-to-be are offered the vaccine between 16 and 32 weeks of pregnancy so their baby has protection against whooping cough until they are old enough to have the routine immunisation at 8 weeks old.

All babies are given three doses of the 6-in-1 jab combination vaccine at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age to protect against whooping cough and other serious diseases, such as diphtheria and polio, with a pre-school booster offered at 3 years 4 months. It's best to have them on time, but children can still have the 6-in-1 vaccine up to the age of 10.

The NHS has created a video with Rickell Bailey, the midwifery led unit manager at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, to explain why the whooping cough vaccine is important. You can watch the video on YouTube. Liz Punter, Midwife at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, also explains why pregnant women should come forward for a vaccine. She said: “The only way you can help protect your baby from getting whooping cough in their first few weeks after birth is by having the whooping cough vaccination yourself while you are pregnant.

“The best time to get vaccinated to protect your baby from whooping cough is from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks of pregnancy. This maximises the chance that your baby will be protected from birth, through the transfer of your antibodies before they are born.

Due to the bank holiday some services such as GP surgeries and pharmacies may be closed or working on a reduced service. Selected pharmacies will still be available for prescriptions, non-urgent medical advice, and treatment of common ailments.

People who need medical help that isn’t an emergency should contact NHS 111 in the first instance by visiting 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111.

NHS 111 can help direct people to the most appropriate local health service if they aren’t sure where to go – this could include an out of hours GP, a pharmacy, a local NHS walk-in centre, or a hospital accident & emergency (A&E) department.

But you can get involved now!

Have you accessed Walsall Urology Services in the last 18 months? We want to hear your experiences about the treatment and care you received. Tel: 07732 683464 or FreePhone: 0800 470 1660 or Email: info@healthwatchwalsall.co.uk

Tell us about your individual experience by phone or by Email!

Under proposals from the Black Country Provider Collaborative (BCPC) – made up of The Royal olverhampton NHS Trust, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust – Urology cancer patients will have their surgery at one designated centre, depending on their illness. An overview of the proposals is below:

Surgery for renal/kidney cancer patients would take place at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley, which would become a specialised renal/kidney surgical centre, including robotic surgery. This would create the capacity for an additional approximately 170 robotic surgical procedures per year, taking the total to up to 300 annually.

Prostate and/or bladder cancer patients’ surgery will continue to be at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, where it is currently undertaken. New Cross would become the urological pelvic surgical centre. With the proposed renal/kidney surgical centre at Russells Hall, additional capacity would be created at New Cross to carry out between 280-421 urological procedures – cystectomies (removal of the bladder) and prostatectomies (partial or complete removal of the prostate) per year.

Patients requiring complex kidney stone surgery would have that undertaken at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust Hospitals Trust, which would become the complex kidney stone surgical centre. It is anticipated that based on available capacity this will impact 85-132 patients annually.

Patients’ pre and post operative care appointments would still take place at their local hospital.

Dr Jonathan Odum, Chief Medical Officer for the BCPC, said: “We want to ensure all patients across the Black Country are able to receive high quality care in the area. The aim is to improve urological surgical cancer and renal stone service provision, with many positive benefits.”

The benefits include:
Improved outcomes for patients
Improved quality of life through faster access to cancer surgery
Improved satisfaction with level of care and the positive patient experience
Reduction in waiting times, to meet the national cancer targets
Better use of theatre capacity across all four Trusts
Creating more opportunities for patients to access care from Black County Providers, rather than travelling to other areas
Developing a more skilled and experienced workforce, with greater staff retention and recruitment

People in the Black Country are being reminded to order any repeat prescriptions they may need ahead of the spring bank holiday (Monday 27 May).

GP practices and pharmacies will have limited opening hours over the bank holiday weekend, making it more challenging for people to access medicines at short notice and may lead to a delay in getting your medication.

Every bank holiday, NHS 111 sees an increase in people getting in touch about repeat prescriptions. Waiting and using emergency or urgent services over the spring bank holiday puts added pressure on already busy services.

To avoid this and to ensure health is not put at any unnecessary risk, people are being asked to submit any repeat prescriptions that are due for renewal by Friday 17 May to make sure there is enough time for them to be processed and dispensed.

Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “The time leading up to a bank holiday weekend can be busy for the NHS. By ordering medicines as soon as possible, it allows enough time for it to be processed and dispensed and helps avoid a last-minute rush. “If you take any medicine on a regular basis to help manage a long-term condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or asthma, now is the time to check that you have enough medication left to last you over the upcoming spring bank holiday. “Keeping your medicine cabinets stocked, knowing when your GP practice is open, and planning for repeat prescriptions that are due will ensure you can make the most of the long weekend. “The easiest way to order repeat prescriptions is via the NHS App or through your GP practice website. If you do not have access to GP online services, you can phone your GP practice to order prescriptions.”

Most repeat medication requests can be made online, via local practice websites or through the NHS App. People who do not use the internet can approach their practice to access their prescriptions.

If people feel unwell over the bank holiday weekend, but it’s not life threatening, they can contact NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111.

NHS 111 can help direct people to the most appropriate local health service if they aren’t sure where to go – this could include an out of hours GP, a pharmacy, a local NHS walk-in centre, ora hospital accident & emergency (A&E) department.

Urgent and emergency care services will also be open as normal over the long weekend. People should only call 999 or attend A&E services in the event of an emergency.

This May Measure Month (MMM), eligible people in the Black Country are being reminded to visit their local pharmacy for a blood pressure check.

Led by the International Society of Hypertension, MMM is an annual global screening campaign which aims to educate people on the importance of having their blood pressure checked regularly, as raised blood pressure is the number one cause of preventable death worldwide.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious condition where your heart is made to consistently work harder to pump blood around your body.

It often has no symptoms and can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially lifethreatening conditions such as heart disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and dementia.

People who might be more at risk of having high blood pressure include those who:
• are overweight
• do not do enough exercise
• drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)
• smoke
• have a lot of stress
• eat too much salt and not enough fruit or vegetables
• are over 65 years old
• are of Black African or Black Caribbean descent.

All adults over 40 years old are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.
In the Black Country it is estimated there are around 75,000 people with undiagnosed hypertension and so the NHS is reminding people aged 40 and over who haven’t had a blood pressure check in the last six months to come forward.

Dr Sunil Nadar, Clinical Lead Cardiologist at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and MMM National Lead for England, said: “High blood pressure rarely has any symptoms which is why it is called the ‘silent killer’. It can significantly raise your risk of a life-threatening heart attack, heart failure, or stroke, and the only way to know you have the condition is to get your blood pressure measured.

“High blood pressure can often be prevented or reduced by eating healthily (especially reducing salt in the diet), maintaining a healthy weight, taking regular exercise, drinking alcohol in moderation and not smoking. Some people with high blood pressure will also need to take one or more medicines to stop their blood pressure getting too high – what works best is different for each person.

“Checking your blood pressure is quick, simple and painless, and it could save your life. So, if you don’t know what your blood pressure is, May is the time to find out.” Selected community pharmacies across the Black Country offer a free blood pressure check service for people aged 40 and over with no previous history of high blood pressure. You can find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks near you on the NHS website.
Stephen Noble, local pharmacist and Chief Officer of the Community Pharmacy Dudley, said: “May Measure Month is a great opportunity for raise awareness of high blood pressure and the importance of having a blood pressure check.

“If you’re aged 40 and over and you’re not already being monitored by a doctor, you can quickly and easily get your blood pressure checked by going into your local pharmacy. It’s a free, simple and non-invasive test, conducted in privacy, and you don’t need to book in advance.

“Depending on the result, the pharmacist might give you advice to support healthy living, give you a blood pressure monitor to take home with you and return later, or advise you to see a GP. Your blood pressure readings are also sent to your GP so your health records can be updated.”

Ahead of World Asthma Day (Tuesday 7 May), people in the Black Country are being reminded of the signs and symptoms of asthma.

World Asthma Day is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), which aims to improve asthma awareness and care. This year’s theme is ‘Asthma Education Empowers’ and focuses on the importance of empowering people with asthma with the appropriate education to manage their condition and to recognise when to seek medical help.

Asthma is a common lung condition that causes breathing difficulties. It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults.

The main symptoms are a whistling or wheezing sound when breathing, a feeling of breathlessness, a tight chest and coughing. The symptoms tend to vary and can sometimes get worse - this is commonly known as an asthma attack.

The NHS has created a video of a local GP sharing important tips of how to recognise an asthma attack, particularly in children, which can be viewed on YouTube.

Dr Atul Gulati, Clinical Director Respiratory Medicine at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said: “World Asthma Day provides the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of asthma including the signs and symptoms to look out for and the importance of seeking help.

“Everyone’s asthma is different, and people may have several triggers. Some of the most common triggers include having a cold or flu, exposure to air pollution, tobacco smoke, house dust mites, animal fur, or grass and tree pollen.

“Whilst the severity of symptoms varies from person to person, asthma is a serious condition so it’s really important that you don’t ignore symptoms and seek medical advice straight away if you’re concerned.”

To help raise awareness of asthma management in children, the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) has also launched its Asthma Friendly Schools initiative which encourages all schools in the Black Country to welcome children with asthma and support them to proactively manage their asthma, both at home and school, so they don’t miss out.

Lisa Cummings, Queens Nurse and Asthma Practitioner in the Children and Young People’s Asthma Team for the NHS Black Country ICB, said: “Asthma is a common but very serious, and sometimes life-threatening, medical condition which affects one in 11 children in the UK.

“We know that asthma that is poorly controlled can not only impact physical health but also psychological health and educational attainment, and so our aim is to ensure that every child with asthma can go to school and fully participate in all elements of school life.

“Our Asthma Friendly School programme recognises the important role that schools play in the health and wellbeing of children, which is why we are encouraging all local schools in the Black Country to take part. The initiative aims to improve the care of pupils with asthma by raising awareness through information, training and support for school staff, as well as pupils, parents and carers.”