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Advice and Information -
As a consumer champion for the public, Healthwatch Walsall (HWW) regularly listens to experiences about unsatisfactory care and signposts to the most appropriate complaints handler. -
Advice and Information -
By taking part, you will:
• Gain/extend knowledge about how to live with your condition
• Feel confident and more in control of your life
• Manage your condition and treatment together with healthcare professionals
• Be realistic about the impact of your condition on yourself and your family
• Use your new skills and knowledge to improve your quality of life
• Meet others who share similar experiences
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Advice and Information -
Diabetes Self Care Management Programme
If you are living with Diabetes, why not join the Diabetes Self Care Management Programme and take better care of yourself. -
Advice and Information -
If you are living with Chronic Pain, why not join the Chronic Pain Self Care Management Programme and take better care of yourself -
Advice and Information -
Learn new skills to help you to cope with your caring situation. -
Advice and Information -
Due to an increase in measles cases across the West Midlands, pop-up vaccination clinics have been set up in the Black Country to help ensure children aged 12 to 16 are up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab.
Measles is a highly infectious disease which can lead to serious complications such as severe lung infections and inflammation of the brain. It also damages and suppresses the whole immune system, meaning children can be left much more susceptible to catching other illnesses.
It can spread quickly among communities, particularly schools, if children have not had two doses of the MMR vaccine.
All children are invited for their first MMR vaccine on the NHS when they turn one. The second dose is given when they reach three years and four months of age.
Having two doses of the vaccine provides the best protection against MMR and adults and older children can be vaccinated at any age if they have not been fully vaccinated before.
A series of pop-up clinics offering the MMR vaccine are taking place across the Black Country for 12 to 16 year-olds (Year 8 and Year 11) who haven’t yet had two doses. The clinics are being hosted in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell on the following dates:
Wolverhampton:
• The Health Hub, Mander Centre, Wolverhampton, WV1 3NH, Saturday 20 January,
9am-2.30pm. To book an appointment call 01902 200077
Dudley:
• Fens Pool Community Centre, Tennyson Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 4HY, Saturday 20
January, 9am-1.30pm. To book an appointment call 01384 431712
Sandwell:
• Wood Lane Community Centre, Wood Lane, West Bromwich, B709PT, Saturday 27
January, 9am-1.30pm. To book an appointment call 0121 592 1110
Walsall:
• South & Central Locality Hub, Birchills Street, WS2 8NF, Saturday 27 January, 9am1.30pm. To book an appointment call 01922 902035
The clinics will be staffed by trained healthcare professionals from the NHS and Vaccination UK who specialise in childhood vaccinations and follow all necessary safety protocols. Parents and carers who are unsure if their child is up to date with their routine vaccinations can also check this at the clinics. Children will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the clinics.
Dr Fiona Rose, local GP and Clinical Director for Quality and Safety for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board said: “Measles can easily spread between unvaccinated people and can be very serious, so it is important that parents make sure their children are protected. The safest and most effective way to prevent measles is to ensure your child is fully vaccinated with MMR vaccine.
“It’s understandable that parents may be worried about getting their child vaccinated, however the MMR vaccine is one of the most studied vaccines in the world, with millions of doses given every year – it is safe for your child, and will protect them, their friends and the wider community.
“It’s never too late to come forward and our pop-up clinics are a great opportunity for children aged 12 to 16 years to get vaccinated if they have missed a dose, so please do book an appointment as soon as you can.”
Parents who are unsure if their child is up to date with all their routine vaccinations can also check their child’s Red Book (personal child health record), check the NHS app, or contact their GP practice.
For more information about the MMR vaccine, visit the NHS website here. -
Advice and Information -
Are you grieving the death of a loved one or struggling with the long-term effects of loss? Then join us for this six-session course, The Bereavement Journey, being run by the Brownhills & Willenhall and Walsall Methodist Circuits. -
Advice and Information -
Pop-up vaccination clinics have been set up during February half term to help ensure hildren are up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab.
All children are invited for their first MMR vaccine on the NHS when they turn one. The second dose is given when they reach three years and four months of age.
Having two doses of the vaccine provides the best protection against MMR and adults and older children can be vaccinated at any age if they have not been fully vaccinated before.
The clinics, which will be running everyday throughout the half term break, are open to all eligible children who are due or have missed a dose. Adults up to the age of 25 are also invited to come forward.
The pop-up clinics are being hosted at a range of locations across the Black Country. This is in
addition to existing pop-up clinics taking place this weekend:
Saturday 3 February:
• Vaccination van located outside Poundland in Walsall Town Centre, Lower Hall Lane, St Matthews Quarter, WS1 1PU, 9am-3pm. To book an appointment call 01922
902035
• Whitmore Reans Family Hub, Wolverhampton, WV1 4AL, 9.30am-2.30pm. To book an appointment call 01902 200077
Saturday 10 February:
• Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge, DY8 2AA, 10am-3pm. To book an appointment call 01384 431 712
• West Bromwich Central Family Hub, Off Claypit Lane, West Bromwich, B70 9EZ, 9am3pm. To book an appointment call 0121 592 1110
Monday 12 February:
• Tesco, Silver Street, Brownhills, Walsall, WS8 6DZ, 9am-3pm, To book an appointment call 01922 902035 -
Advice and Information -
Guidance, information and vaccination information. -
Advice and Information -
Being active and making connections with others is an important part of our health and wellbeing.
Let's Talk can help to identify what support you would like to access and to make connections in your local community.
For more information, click download for the Lets Talk Service leaflet. -
Advice and Information -
As Muslims begin to prepare for the month of Ramadan, the NHS has shared a reminder about how to stay safe and healthy during the holy month. Ramadan is expected to start on the evening of Sunday 10 March, subject to moon sighting, and end on Tuesday 9 April, during which time many Muslims will fast and not eat or drink during daylight hours. Fasting during Ramadan can be challenging, especially for those living with a long-term health condition such as diabetes, those who take prescribed medicines or anyone who needs a medical appointment during the holy month. -
Advice and Information -
The way to order repeat prescriptions is changing.
Notification to patients of a change in service for repeat prescriptions - please read carefully. (As this applies to specific GP venues as listed below).
From 31 May 2024, you will no longer be able to order repeat prescriptions using the Prescription Ordering Direct (POD) telephone service.
Your GP practice will be taking over the responsibility for your repeat prescriptions.
You can order your repeat prescriptions using one of these methods:
• on the NHS App
• by logging into your NHS account at www.nhs.uk
• by requesting a repeat prescription on your GP practice website
• by contacting your GP practice after 10am, to avoid the morning demand for appointments, for support with your repeat prescription request.
If you are unable to use any of these methods, please contact a member of staff at your GP practice who will be able to discuss your options.
The POD service is currently available to patients registered at the following Modality GP practices in Walsall:
• Collingwood Practice
• Forrester Street Practice
• Harden Health Centre / Blakenall Practice
• Keys Family Practice
• Kingfisher Berkley Practice
• Modality Darlaston Practice
• New Invention Practice
• Pleck Medical Centre.
• St John's Medical Centre.
NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board have provided a set of frequently asked questions explaining why the service is closing, what alternative options you have, and where you can go if you have any questions or concerns.
For more information about the way to order repeat prescriptions, please visit the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board's website.
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Advice and Information -
With cases of whooping cough increasing across the Black Country, pregnant women are being encouraged to come forward for a vaccination.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems, especially in babies and young children.
Mums-to-be are offered the vaccine between 16 and 32 weeks of pregnancy so their baby has protection against whooping cough from birth. The whooping cough vaccine is also routinely given as part of the 6-in-1 combination vaccine for babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks.
If you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated, or if your child hasn’t yet had the 6-in-1 combination vaccine, please contact your GP surgery to book an appointment to get the protection from whooping cough as soon as possible. If you’re unsure if your child has had the vaccine, check your child’s red book (health record).
Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “Anyone can catch whooping cough, but the infection can be very serious in young children and babies.
“Getting vaccinated while you’re pregnant is highly effective in protection your baby from developing whooping cough in the first few weeks of their life – ideally from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks of pregnancy. If for any reason you miss having the vaccine, you can still have it up until you go into labour.
“The immunity you get from the vaccine will pass to your baby through the placenta and provide protection for them until they are old enough to be routinely vaccinated against whooping cough at eight weeks old.
“Vaccination remains the very best protection for babies and children from becoming unwell with whooping cough. So, if you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated, or if your child hasn’t yet had the 6-in-1 combination vaccine, please come forward as soon as you can.”
For more information on the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy, please visit the NHS website.
The 6-in-1 vaccine protects babies against six serious illnesses:
• diphtheria
• hepatitis B
• hib (Haemophilus influenza type b)
• polio
• tetanus
• whooping cough.
If your child has missed their 6-in-1 vaccinations, contact your GP surgery. It's best to have them on time, but children can still have the 6-in-1 vaccine up to the age of 10.
For more information about the 6-in-1 vaccine, please visit the NHS website.
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Advice and Information -
Suicide Bereavement UK have developed a series of At Your Side guides for those bereaved by suicide in the Armed Forces community.
Three guides have been written by the bereaved for the bereaved:
At Your Side guide for veterans
At Your Side guide for families
At Your Side guide for serving personnel
Both the veteran and family guide will be launched on the 17th April 2024. The serving guide will be launched shortly afterwards.
Who produced the At Your Side guides?
The guides have been produced by Suicide Bereavement UK, an internationally recognised organisation specialising in suicide bereavement research and the development of evidence-informed support materials for bereaved people.
They were commissioned by NHS England and co-produced with individuals bereaved by suicide as well as experts in military mental health, suicide prevention and bereavement.
The guides are based on the experiences and needs of those who took part in the Armed Forces Suicide Bereavement Study. All were bereaved by suicide, having lost a friend, colleague, spouse, partner, adult child, parent or sibling during or after military service.
The guides are free to download.
Dedication
The guides are dedicated to those bereaved by suicide and to those they have lost in the Armed Forces community.