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On this occasion we have carried out a project that looks at the experiences of people accessing services that support people with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism in the community -
Report -
We wanted to find out what is important to young people when accessing Health and Social Care services, what they feel is missing and give young people an opportunity to have their voices heard. -
News -
The young person's communication project is aimed at young people aged 14-24 to find out their experiences and challenges in accessing health and social care services and whether young people are aware of alternative options for primary care services. We are conducting this survey to find out what barriers young people are faced with and what could help improve this for them. -
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Have you had an issue communicating with a professional? Have you had issues accessing health services? A campaign for and by young people in Walsall
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Advice and Information -
Please note the directory was published prior to COVID-19. Some contact details may have changed.
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Advice and Information -
Free 60 minute bookable support sessions with a specialist autism advisor with
lived experience. Person centred, online support sessions, providing
information and guidance for pre and post diagnosed autistic adults
and their families living in the Black Country.
To see the available dates and times and for booking
information please visit: www. autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/
For more information please contact Sue: E:suemorris@autismwestmidlands.org.uk -
News -
Here is our Spring Newsletter filled with information, updates, and messages from our partners. -
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Reflexions is a Mental Health Support Team (MHST), that are a service that helps increase access to mental health
support for children and young people in schools. -
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he launch of our Joint Forward Plan comes as the Black Country ICB and the ICS celebrate its one-year anniversaries. In the last 12 months, we have already achieved a great deal by working in partnership with organisations in the health and care sector. However, there is no question that this is a challenging time for health and care services, which is why our plan recognises the collective strength in working together to resolve our shared challenges and describes our ambition to improve quality and outcomes for people who use our services.
This plan is just the start of our journey and I look forward to working with you to bring it to life and make a real difference to the health of people in the Black Country.
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Childhood vaccinations video - English -
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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
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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! -
News -
Thank you to those who attended our Annual Public Meeting.
But now we need your assistance. Start the conversation... -
News -
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 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! -
News -
CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE’S VOICE SURVEY -
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Ideas Made Real is for young people aged 16-24 to turn their social action projects and community ideas into reality. Each successful young person will receive an award of up to £8,000 and expert support from United By 2022’s youth team to bring their project to life. Whether it's addressing homelessness, promoting mental
health awareness, or improving their surroundings, Ideas Made Real is designed by young people, for young people. Ideas Made Real is part of our GEN22 programme and last year’s projects won a national award.
To celebrate the West Midlands turning 50 this year, Ideas Made Real will hand the reins over to young people to create lasting impacts in their neighbourhood, their community and their home. If you have ever felt that no-one is doing anything about an issue that you care about, then this is for you. Previous participants say that Ideas Made Real made them feel confident and connected, and proud they made a difference for a community important to them, or in the place they call home. -
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The Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES) is a free NHS service for anyone who is experiencing emergency eye care problems and is registered with a GP in the Black Country.
The symptoms that can be treated by the service includes:
• red or painful eye or eyelids
• recently occurring flashes and floaters
• recent and sudden loss of vision
• a foreign body in the eye.
Adults and children can use the service, which is available via participating opticians across the Black Country, without the need for a GP referral.
This service is not an eye test and does not cover long standing or major eye conditions such as such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. Those who have one of these conditions should contact their optometrist or hospital eye service directly for advice in the usual way.
Sarb Basi, Director of Primary Care for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “It’s important that we look after our eyes by having regular check-ups with an optician. However, if you find yourself with a sudden urgent eye condition, the CUES can give advice and treatment without delay.
“In most cases, the CUES will be able to treat patients quickly and easily. And, if hospital treatment is needed, the service will arrange an emergency appointment with an eye specialist at a hospital – meaning that patients have access to the right care straightaway.
“In the Black Country, there is a hugely talented workforce in primary care opticians who have the equipment and skills required to assess, diagnose and where necessary, treat eye problems. The CUES is a great example of providing more efficient care closer to home by minimising delays and reducing the need for hospital visits, and I would encourage people to access this service if they need urgent eye treatment.”
People can book an assessment with the Community Urgent Eyecare Service online.
You may also be referred or redirected to the service by another health care provider such as a GP, local pharmacist, optician, NHS 111 or A&E.
The self-referral service is coordinated by Primary Eyecare, the largest single not-for-profit primary eyecare lead provider in England.
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On this occasion we carried out a project looking at the Accessible Information Standard to ensure it meets the needs of people with sensory impairment.
Guidance from NHS England states:
‘From 1 August 2016 onwards, all organisations that provide NHS care and/or publicly-funded adult social care are legally required to follow the Accessible Information Standard.’
‘The Standard sets out a specific, consistent approach to identifying, recording, flagging, sharing and meeting the information and communication support needs of patients, service users, carers and parents with a disability, impairment or sensory loss.’
This report is a local sample of service user experiences and views.
Available as a PDF and Word document which can be read aloud.
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Teenage pregnancy was chosen as one of our priority projects for 2023-2024. We met with Local Authority staff and from this meeting it was clear most of the work we would be undertaking would be around communication, which is something we had already covered in our Young Persons Communication Around Health and Social Care Services Report. We then met with Walsall Teenage Pregnancy Lead; from this we were invited to engage with young people who are currently attending 2 programmes that are running in Walsall, Teens & Toddlers and Thrive. -
Advice and Information -
Health issues unfortunately don't leave us alone at the weekend and people are often in need of medical assistance out of hours. Using NHS guidelines, we have provided some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed. -
Report -
17 questions were included in the survey along with open text sections for additional comments to be made. -
Report -
To observe the physical environment of the home and the interactions of staff and residents. To listen to, observe and capture the experiences of service delivery from the residents and relatives. -
Report -
A copy of our public meeting/ minutes. Agenda plus 4 documents enc. -
Report -
A copy of our public meeting/ minutes -
Report -
Healthwatch Walsall Advisory Board (HAB) Meeting held on Thursday 4 February 2021 11:15 a.m.
Virtual online digital platform Zoom.
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Advice and Information -
Healthwatch Walsall Advisory Board (HAB) Meeting held on Thursday 3 December 2020 11:00 a.m. Virtual online digital platform Zoom
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Report -
Healthwatch Walsall Advisory Board (HAB) Meeting held on Thursday 3 December 2020 11:00 a.m. Virtual online digital platform Zoom
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Report -
Healthwatch Walsall Advisory Board (HAB) Meeting held on Thursday 23 July 2020, 2.00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting -
News -
Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
Report -
Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
News -
Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, themes, and useful information. -
News -
Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
News -
Information of support for those who feel isolated. Available support and services. -
Report -
This report is the culmination of engagement work undertaken and co-ordinated by Paul Higgitt,
Senior Engagement Lead, Healthwatch Walsall from the beginning of 2020 when individual patient
stories were recorded followed by three virtual patient engagement events held during June and July
2020. This work has been supported throughout by Phil Griffin, Walsall Together Service User Group
Chair. A significant number of diabetes patients have been involved in this work and there has also
been some input from Diabetes Specialist Nurses and also Diabetes UK. -
Report -
The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) is a key commissioning tool for NHS England, Local
Authority and Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG). The PNA includes pharmaceutical services and
other services that may be delivered through community pharmacy. The PNA maps current provision,
assesses local need, and identifies any gaps in provision. It is reviewed every 3 years and Healthwatch
Walsall were pleased to be asked to have an integral role in the consultation process. -
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On this occasion, the Healthwatch have carried out a project that looks at the experiences of people who were more likely to be digitally excluded than the general population in accessing primary care during the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions. Unlike the HWE project we did not interview GP practice staff as at the time the project was being undertaken local GP practice staff were taken up with the rollout of the Covid vaccination programme and felt unable to take part. -
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Healthwatch continues to gather information locally, through various means, such as surveys, focus groups, one-to-one conversations and questionnaires. -
News -
Our Autumn newsletter has just dropped.
With useful information and support opportunities. -
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Healthwatch Walsall would like to know what is affecting you and your family, how you are/will be planning to manage and to find out what support you need? -
Report -
Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
News -
Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
News -
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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Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
News -
Those eligible for the COVID-19 spring booster vaccine are:
People aged 75 and older
Residents in care homes for older people
Those aged 5 and over who have weakened immune systems.
If you are eligible for a spring booster, you will be contacted by the NHS by letter, text message or via the NHS App. Appointments can be booked via the National Booking System or NHS App, with first appointments available from Monday 17 April.
The last date you will be able to book a spring booster will be 29 June, with the last spring vaccinations on offer the following day, 30 June.
To book for yourself or a family member, go to www.nhs.uk/CovidVaccination , visit the NHS App, or call 119 for free. -
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A copy of our public meeting/ minutes. -
News -
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.