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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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Advice and Information -
This useful information flyer that identifies support, information or advice. -
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Service development opportunity. So share your views.
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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.
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Advice and Information -
An independent charity providing free, confidential specialist bereavement counselling support to the residents of Walsall, West Midlands.
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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/ -
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Over the past year, fuel and energy prices have soared taking huge bites out of our pockets, on top of increased rents and food prices. The financial squeeze has been felt by everyone in the UK.
Everywhere you look, you’re reminded of the cost of living crisis. The news, social media, and your personal bank balance offer stark reminders of the current reality.
People are reducing car journeys and taking up cycling, there are those cutting out yearly holidays and in the most challenging of circumstances, people have to choose between heating the house and food items.
Link to ReHab recovery website: https://www.rehab-recovery.co.uk/resources/cost-of-living-effect-on-nations-mental-health/ -
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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. -
Report -
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. -
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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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Dementia: shaping support in Walsall, Wednesday 10 May 2023, 9.30 am - 1.30 pm
Attend and help shape the future of services for people with dementia in Walsall. -
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'Virtual Wards' 'What are they?'
Guest speaker: Fiona Micheli - Lead Nurse Care Navigation Centre /Virtual Wards
Join us for an informative presentation about what they are and have a chance to ask questions and learn all about it.
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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 Healthwatch Advisory Board - Public Meeting Minutes are now available. 18th April 2023. -
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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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Healthwatch Walsall want to hear from Black and Asian women living in Walsall about their maternity experiences. Were you happy with the treatment and care you received? We want to listen to your feedback and use this to influence service changes to make maternity services better, be more accessible, inclusive and for service users to have the highest quality of care.
Share your feedback by taking part in our short survey. It takes just a couple of minutes. What you tell us can help shape services for the people who use them.
Your feedback is anonymous, we will not ask your name and you do not have to tell us anything personal about yourself.
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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 great presentation about the 'Care Navigation' service in Walsall. Thank you to Fiona Micheli for presenting about the service.
To learn about Walsall Care Navigation then click on 'Download' to see the presentation. -
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A great presentation about the 'Virtual Wards' service in Walsall. Thank you to Fiona Micheli for presenting about the service.
To learn about Walsall Virtual Wards then click on 'Download' to see the presentation. -
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A great presentation about the 'Bowel Cancer' awareness in Walsall. Thank you to Jo Barlow for presenting.
To learn about Bowel Caner awareness then click on 'Download' to see the presentation. -
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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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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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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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Extended healthcare teams are now supporting patients in GP practices across the Black Country. 🙌
They include a range of healthcare professionals who are highly skilled and knowledgeable in the areas they specialise in and can diagnose and treat a variety of health conditions.
Watch this short animation to learn about the different roles that make up extended healthcare teams, what they can do and how they can help you.
For more information: https://blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/extended-healthcare-teams-gp-practices
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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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Engaging Communities Solutions (ECS) is an organisation that focuses on involving patients and the public in healthcare research and decision-making processes including the delivery of local Healthwatch. In 2019, ECS became part of a team led by Birmingham University to conduct a research project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The aim of the project was to evaluate the use of inter-organizational cooperation to bring about improvements in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.
As part of the research, ECS carried out a focus group and interviews that contributed the patient and public voice to the project that evaluated the use of inter-organisational co-operation to make improvements in the NHS. Fieldwork was disrupted by the pandemic which meant that the completion of the research was to some extent delayed, but the report has now been published by the NIHR -
Advice and Information -
The Positive Outcomes Project (POP) is a health and wellbeing service catered for young adults aged 16-25 in Walsall. We are here to create an accessible support network that is welcoming. We will mentor young adults by exploring challenges together and any issues that are affecting them. We will encourage better coping mechanisms and signpost to specialist help. This service is co-produced and designed by them, which adds ownership and creativity.
There are a few pathways to engage young adults in this service. The Hubs are a friendly, safe space, where young adults can drop in, socialise, and access the necessary support. We will be opening 6 Hubs in key locations across Walsall. These will host positive group activities which include a life hacks group, employability skills and many more depending on current issues raised. Whilst we are waiting for our Hubs to open, we will be using our mobile hub “the youth bus” to visit communities as a pop-up drop-in service. We
encourage everyone to keep an eye on our social media pages, as it will inform you if we are in your local area.
The website is an online directory which is accessible to everyone, it covers a vast number of issues and provides links and details of referral pathways. This can be used to signpost young adults to a wide range of local health and wellbeing services. Mentoring and 1 to 1 support are available via a referral through our website. This allows a nurturing approach with the young adult being matched with one of our mentors, who are trained to deliver health and wellbeing support. Our mentors are passionate about making a difference and changing lives. Our mentors will be present at the Hubs to motivate and inspire young adults. Sessions can be in person or virtually to ensure young adults are comfortable in engaging and get the most out of the service.
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On Tuesday 12th October 2023, we're launching a new clinic at the Clock Tower in the Walsall Arboretum. You'll still be able to have online therapy if you'd like, but if you prefer face-to-face therapy, come to our new centre. Unsure of where we are, we're based in the corner of the Arboretum on the main crossroad in Walsall (Clock Tower, Arboretum, Lichfield Street, Walsall, WS4 2DU). -
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Packed with what we have been doing and going to be doing with messages from our partners. -
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A brief outline of some of the themes and issues that patients have faced using Walsall Services during September 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 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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October is World Menopause Month, and October 18th celebrated as World Menopause Awareness Day, with the focus this year on cardiovascular health. Established in 2009 by the International Menopause Society in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), World Menopause Month aims to raise awareness of the menopause and the possible associated health issues, whilst promoting support options available to improve the health and wellbeing of those navigating the menopause transition.
To show our support to colleagues experiencing menopause, Engaging Communities Solutions (ECS), is a signatory of the Workplace Menopause pledge:
Our Managing Director, Elizabeth Learoyd said, “We are committed to supporting our employees in the workplace and caring for their health and wellbeing. While no two people experience menopause in the same way, menopause represents a significant well-being concern for many. That is why we recognise the importance of raising awareness of the potential impacts of menopause as a first step towards ensuring everybody gets the help they need to safeguard their health and wellbeing at work”. -
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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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People in the Black Country are being reminded of the possible signs and symptoms of cancer, and the importance of getting checked out by their GP.
Finding cancer early means it’s easier to treat, which is why being aware of the general signs and symptoms of cancer is important.
Some common signs and symptoms of cancer include:
• persistent tummy trouble or a persistent change in bowel habit such as constipation or
diarrhoea
• blood in your poo
• blood in your pee even just once
• unexpected or unexplained bleeding
• unexplained persistent pain
• an unexplained lump
• a persistent cough for three weeks or more (that isn’t COVID 19)
• weight loss that is not explained by a change in your diet or lifestyle
• a new mole or changes to a mole.
It’s probably nothing serious, but if you experience any of the above signs or symptoms, it is
important that you see your doctor and have your symptoms checked out.
The NHS has created a video with a local GP to highlight the importance of coming forward if you have any cancer symptoms that are worrying you. You can watch the video on YouTube Click on Pink button..
Dr Gurpreet Rakhra, a local GP in the Black Country, said: “It’s really important to raise awareness of the possible signs and symptoms of cancer and encourage people to get any symptoms that are concerning them checked out.
“You are not wasting anyone's time, and if it isn't serious, your mind will be put at ease. But if it is cancer, early diagnosis can make all the difference. The sooner cancer is detected, the better the chances of successful treatment.
“If you notice any unusual change in your body that will not go away or you have noticed something that could be a sign of cancer, please book an appointment to see your GP as soon as possible, even if you’ve recently had screening or if your due screening.”
For more information on cancer symptoms, visit the NHS website.