1. News -

    Information of support for those who feel isolated. Available support and services.
  2. News -

    Part of our Walsall Together work
  3. Report -

    Heart disease remains as one of the major causes of premature death in Walsall. There have
    been several reports produced locally by Public Health Walsall that evidence this but there is
    also other intelligence published by Public Health England e.g., CVD primary care intelligence
    pack (2021). We understand that a range of factors heighten the risk of heart disease and
    that generally premature deaths from this disease tend to be in the more deprived areas of
    Walsall where risk factors that can cause heart disease are more prevalent. As background
    data to support this report we have obtained some summary information from our local

    Public Health department as well as undertaking a limited analysis of the CVD primary care
    intelligence pack 2021 and this follows.
  4. Report -

    115,000 people a year die from lung disease in the UK, equivalent to 1 person every 5
    minutes, and every day, 1500 people are newly diagnosed with lung disease. Moreover, the
    health outcomes for people with lung disease have not improved over the last 10 years to the
    same extent as other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. The mortality rate
    (the number of people per 100,000 dying) of people aged under 75 from respiratory disease
    in Walsall is 48.1, which is significantly worse than the national rate of 34.2.

    2
    There were 5040 emergency hospital admissions for respiratory disease in 2018/19 in
    Walsall. Hospital admissions due to respiratory conditions are a major factor in the winter
    pressures faced by the NHS and lung disease costs the UK more than £11 billion per year
    including the impact on the NHS (£9.9bn), and wider economy through working days lost
    (£1.2bn).
  5. 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.
  6. News -

    Our seasonal update contains service information and messages as well as what we have been up to and what you told us.
  7. News -

    The beginning of May is upon us and where is the year going? It’s great that we are now out and about in the Borough, being able to meet up
    with new and old faces again and as we continue with our engagement program, we look forward to meeting more of you to hear about your health and social care experiences.
  8. 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.
  9. Report -

    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.
  10. Report -

    Healthwatch continues to gather information locally, through various means, such as surveys, focus groups, one-to-one conversations, and questionnaires.
  11. Report -

    Healthwatch continues to gather information locally, through various means, such as surveys, focus groups, one-to-one conversations, and questionnaires.
  12. Report -

    Healthwatch continues to gather information locally, through various means, such as surveys, focus groups, one-to-one conversations and questionnaires.
  13. Report -

    Healthwatch continues to gather information locally, through various means, such as surveys, focus groups, one-to-one conversations and questionnaires.
  14. Report -

    Healthwatch continues to gather information locally, through various means, such as surveys, focus groups, one-to-one conversations, and questionnaires.
  15. Report -

    Healthwatch continues to gather information locally, through various means, such as surveys, focus groups, one-to-one conversations and questionnaires.
  16. Report -

    Healthwatch continues to gather information locally, through various means, such as surveys, focus groups, one-to-one conversations and questionnaires.
  17. Blog -

    Throughout our work, we gather information about health inequalities by speaking to people whose experiences aren’t often heard.
  18. 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.
  19. News -

    Our Autumn newsletter has just dropped.
    With useful information and support opportunities.
  20. 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.
  21. News -

    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?
  22. News -

    Healthwatch Walsall is the independent champion for local people’s voices in health and social care in Walsall and the contract is delivered by ECS.
  23. News -

    Been discharged or know someone who has from Walsall Manor Hospital? Then take part in our discharge survey. Let's find out how it went.
  24. Report -

    Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information.
  25. 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.
  26. Advice and Information -

    Suicide is preventable – If you or someone you know is having suicidal
    thoughts, we can all help those at risk. In the UK in 2019, 6524 people took their own lives. Men are three times more likely than women to die by suicide. Women are more likely to report suicidal thoughts. Click on the link to download a useful information leaflet.
  27. News -

    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
  28. Report -

    Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information.
  29. News -

    The Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued an Urgent Safety Alert for baby self-feeding pillows and is urging the public to stop using them immediately and dispose of them safely. Businesses selling these products must immediately remove them from the market as they cannot comply with the safety requirements under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
    Link to more information: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/urgent-safety-alert-issued-for-baby-self-feeding-pillows
  30. Advice and Information -

    The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that scarlet fever cases continue to remain higher than we would typically see at this time of year.
  31. Advice and Information -

    There are a number of things you can do to help including getting your winter vaccinations and using the NHS 111 service first for any urgent medical need. The below links take you to the relevant advice and information to support you during the winter.

  32. News -

    From all the team at Healthwatch Walsall
  33. News -

    Full of updates, information and messages from our partners.
  34. News -

    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.
  35. News -

    Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information.
  36. 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.

  37. 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.
  38. Report -

    A report about patient communication with, to and from Walsall Manor Hospital.

    Feedback that we received from members of the public about communication at Walsall Manor Hospital, formed the basis of this project. We wanted to take this opportunity to find out about people’s experiences with communication at Walsall
    Manor Hospital, assess how patients feel about their experiences, and gather their ideas and concerns so that they can be
    represented to key stakeholders.
  39. News -

    A great graphical and informative presentation. Well done Baljot Kaur, great work.
  40. Advice and Information -

    Please note the directory was published prior to COVID-19. Some contact details may have changed.
  41. Advice and Information -

    This useful information flyer that identifies support, information or advice.
  42. Report -

    To observe, and capture the experiences of service delivery from the residents' and relatives’ points of view.
  43. 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.

  44. News -

    Service development opportunity. So share your views.

  45. News -

    We are asking children and young people aged 12-24 from Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton their views
    about how mental health services can encourage people to get involved in helping to improve these services.

    The survey will take approximately 15 minutes and will be completely anonymous.

  46. 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
  47. Advice and Information -

    An independent charity providing free, confidential specialist bereavement counselling support to the residents of Walsall, West Midlands.

  48. News -

    Watch the animation video to discover the key organisations that make up the NHS and how they can collaborate with partners in the health and care system to deliver joined-up care.

    This animation has been developed by The King’s Fund with the support of: https://www.carnallfarrar.com/