People living in the Black Country are being invited to share their views on the future of primary care.

News - 13 August 2024

The NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) is working with GPs and health leaders across the lack Country on a programme of work to transform and improve primary care over the next five years.

Primary care includes general practice, community pharmacy, dental and optometry services. These services are often the first places people go to for help with their health.

A five-year strategy has been developed, setting out the ambition for how primary care services can be transformed. It has identified new ways of working which will help reduce pressures, make general practice more sustainable and improve the experiences of patients and staff alike. It will focus on delivering better unplanned, planned and preventive care which will lead to healthier lifestyles and improved outcomes for people across the Black Country.

People in the Black Country are being given the chance to share their views on areas in the strategy, as well as their own experiences and ideas to help transform primary care

The public conversation is now open and will close on Tuesday 20 September. Local people can have their say in a number of ways, including:

filling in a survey available on the NHS Black Country ICB website

by calling 0121 612 1447 to receive help filling in the survey

by speaking to your local Healthwatch (local contact details can be found here).

A number of People Panel meetings will also be taking place throughout September, where people can speak to primary care staff from the NHS Black Country ICB and get help filling out the survey. To sign up for a People Panel please visit the NHS Black Country ICB events page. 

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