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Shape the NHS forward plan
We want everyone in the Black Country to have improved health, now and in the future. We're writing a NHS Joint Forward Plan with local healthcare partners to set out how we'll work together to meet your health needs, and you can help too. -
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Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
Advice and Information -
People are doing everything that they can to manage the cost of living crisis. People have cut back on their food shops, turned their heating off to sit in the cold and have even started to work from home to reduce the amount of money that they are spending on their petrol each week.
However, constantly having to battle against things that are out of your control is always going to take a toll on your mental health, and suffering from mental health issues at this time won’t be making things any easier.
Unfortunately, over 1.5 million people across England are currently suffering from debt and mental health issues due to the cost of living [1]. We are actually already seeing the outcomes of this, with a recent study carried out from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy discovering that 66% of all current working therapists have said that their client’s mental health has started to decline with the current cost of living [2].
As we all know, a decline in public mental health has consequences that affect the rest of society, with more people abusing alcohol and other substances when they feel depressed or anxious. [3]
The infographic/ PDF to download highlights some additional facts and figures surrounding the cost of living crisis and how this links to poor mental health.
References [1] https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/money-and-mental-health-facts/ [2] https://www.bacp.co.uk/news/news-from-bacp/2022/8-september-cost-of-living-crisis-survey-shows-impact-on-mental-health/ [3] See alcoholism rehabilitation article.
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With the NHS under extra pressure this winter, we need to hear your experiences of care to help services understand what is working and spot issues affecting support for you and your loved ones.
The NHS is facing added pressures this winter. This means that it can be more challenging for people to receive the care they need.
Feedback from the public can play a vital role in helping health and social care services understand what is working and spot issues affecting the care of local people.
This is why we have launched a campaign to get more people to share their experiences of care this winter.
If you or a loved one have used GPs, hospitals, pharmacies, care homes or other support services this winter, we want to hear about your experience.
Every experience matters
Have you faced challenges or delays accessing health and care services this winter? If you have, we want to know how this has affected your health and wellbeing.
Have you found accessing NHS services easy? Are there any aspects of the care you got that you really valued?
Your positive or negative feedback can help services hear what is working and spot issues affecting care for you and your loved ones.
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A great graphical and informative presentation. Well done Baljot Kaur, great work. -
Advice and Information -
With NHS staff holding industrial action this winter, common questions and answers.
Which workers have backed industrial action?
Up to 100,000 nurse members of the RCN;
Up to 20,000 ambulance members of GMB, Unison and Unite;
4,000-plus members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy; and
Junior hospital doctor members of the British Medical Association are also being balloted in January.
When will strike action take place?
6 and 20 March: Ambulance strike by GMB at same 7 trusts as in February.
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Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
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Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
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Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
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A copy of our public meeting/ minutes. -
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The latest NHS data shows that a record number of people are waiting for care. However, our new research indicates that there is also a hidden waiting list, and more needs to be done to understand what it's like for people trying to get referred.
New NHS data indicates that over seven million people are on waiting lists for specialist clinical care or surgery.
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Find out about what services and aspects of those services we will be looking at from 2023 to 2024 as part of our work plan. -
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH LEAD - £24,000 PER ANNUM
37 HOURS PER WEEK, FIXED TERM TO END MAY 2024
Healthwatch Walsall is the local health and social care champion for the people of Walsall. We make sure that NHS leaders and other decision makers hear peoples’ voices about the services and care they receive. We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, experienced and self-motivated individual to be our Community Outreach Lead in Walsall. The individual will work flexibly from both the home base and the Healthwatch Walsall office, with the need to travel extensively across the Borough. The successful individual will work closely with the Healthwatch Walsall team to ensure that the views of Walsall people from all communities about NHS services, children’s and adults social care are captured and recorded. The role entails meeting people, often going to where people are naturally around in their day to day lives and striking up conversations to find about peoples experiences. If you are comfortable doing that then this is the role for you. -
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Our' Cost Of Living Crisis' report is now available. See how people have made adjustments and whats important to them. -
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Our latest Enter and View Report on Touchwood Pharmacy - Blakenall Village Centre is now available.
If you wish to receive a paper copy please call: 0800 470 1660. -
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We have finished our young persons project around barriers to communication when accessing health and social care services. It was really good to be able to link in with so many young people and to hear their views. Click the link below to see what young people are saying about services in Walsall. -
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Here is our Spring Newsletter filled with information, updates, and messages from our partners. -
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Our Engage & Share Report on Drake Court is available. To read or download the report use the link below. -
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Our Enter and View Report on Blakenall Family Practice is now available. The visit took place in March 2023. If you would like a paper copy of the report sent to you please call 0800 470 1660. -
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Our Healthwatch Advisory Board - Public Meeting Minutes are now available. 18th April 2023. -
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So if you have tried to access NHS dental care/treatment in the past year, we ask you to take part in a short questionnaire. Please use the link: https://tinyurl.com/4hmfmadr
We will collate patient responses and publish a report on patients' experiences of trying to get NHS dental care/treatment in Walsall. -
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Read about our recent visit to Selwyn Court Care home, 17th May 2023 -
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Download and read what we have been doing and achieved over the last year. -
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You have the right to make a complaint about any aspect of NHS care, treatment or service, this is written into the NHS Constitution on GOV.UK.
From 1 July 2023 the way you make a complaint about primary care services to the commissioner is changing.
By primary care services we mean GPs, dentists, opticians or pharmacy services.
Click on the 'Downloads' button to find out more.
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A brief outline of some of the themes and issues that patients have faced using Walsall Services during April 2023. Also, things that you can get involved with! -
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A brief outline of some of the themes and issues that patients have faced using Walsall Services during May 2023. Also, things that you can get involved with! -
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A brief outline of some of the themes and issues that patients have faced using Walsall Services during June 2023. Also, things that you can get involved with! -
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Yes, it will be on Tuesday 17th October from 11.00 am till 2.30 pm.
The meeting venue is Ryecroft Community Hub, 28 New Forest Rd, Walsall WS3 1TR.
This is an opportunity for you the public to meet the team and to find out the work we have been doing and are currently undertaking.
We will present our Annual Report 2022/2023 as well as give an update on our 2023/2024 work projects.
There will be guest speaker(s) and advice and information from support organisations. -
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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. -
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To read download a copy. -
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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! -
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A brief outline of some of the themes and issues that patients have faced using Walsall Services during July 2023. Also, things that you can get involved with! -
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The presentation slides from our Annual Public Meeting held on the 17th of October 2023 are now available to download. -
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Thank you to those who attended our Annual Public Meeting.
But now we need your assistance. Start the conversation... -
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This Ask Your Pharmacist Week (30 October – 6 November), people in the Black Country are being reminded to speak to their local pharmacist for any health advice this winter. Ask Your Pharmacist Week is an annual initiative organised by the National Pharmacy Association, which aims to raise awareness of the full range of services on offer in pharmacies.
This year’s theme is ‘meet your local pharmacist team’, highlighting the skills and knowledge of community pharmacists and the wider pharmacy team and their track record of safely delivering clinical services.
At a time when the NHS is preparing for what is expected to be a challenging winter, people are being reminded of this vital line of support that is available in their local pharmacy. Pharmacies can help with a wide range of minor conditions, including coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains. They can also help with dispensing medicines, repeat prescriptions, and help people choose the correct over-the-counter-medicine. Some also offer vaccination services.
Stephen Noble, local pharmacist and Chief Officer of the Community Pharmacy Dudley, said: “Ask Your Pharmacist Week is a great opportunity for us to highlight the important role pharmacists play in helping people to stay well, especially as we head into the
winter months.
“As experts in medicine, pharmacists can help you with almost any health concerns you may have, whether that's providing treatment on the spot or signposting you to the right alternative NHS service. You don’t need to book an appointment to speak to your pharmacist, just ask for a private chat. It’s free and confidential.
“It’s vital that people seek medical advice in order to stay safe and well so please don’t wait for minor illnesses to get worse – think pharmacy first and visit your local pharmacy today.”
Patients registered with a GP practice in the Black Country can also make use of the Pharmacy First service. This service provides people who are exempt from prescription charges with overthe-counter medicines rather than you needing to see a GP to receive the medication on a free prescription. -
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Dental services across the West Midlands are commissioned by the Office of the West Midlands, on behalf of NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) and NHS Black Country ICB.
We want to know what’s important to you when accessing orthodontic treatment. Whether you’ve recently had orthodontic treatment, or simply want your voice heard, your input is vital for helping us shape how these services are provided in the future.
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To read and download a copy. -
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To help focus our work projects for 2024/25. We need you, the Walsall public, to take part and answer a small number of questions. What you say could help reshape services to improve the service user experiences in the future. Make a difference today! -
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This project was an agreed piece of work from patients/service user experiences we received during 2019/2020. Patients indicated that they were having difficulties contacting a number of GP surgeries/practices.
Patient intelligence was gathered from various sources: our online service feedback centre, face to face outreach, calls to our Freephone telephone number and our Email info@ account.
It should be noted that this intelligence was gathered and was happening prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 -
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Read or download a copy.
We asked the Practice Manager to send any comments about the Enter and Visit that was undertaken and this is what they said.
‘Thanks again to the Healthwatch Team for undertaking the Enter and View visit. The team was accommodating prior to the visit and also attentive to details during conversations with the practice team during the visit. It was beneficial to gain the insights and experience of the Healthwatch Team from the visit and the resulting report. I would also like to thank Tom for his advice and guidance.’ -
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See it on here or on our YouTube Channel. -
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Packed full of interesting information, updates, get involved options, and messages from our partners.