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Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
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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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To observe, and capture the experiences of service delivery from the residents' and relatives’ points of view. -
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Your monthly catch-up on health and social care experiences, topics, and themes, and useful information. -
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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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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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Our' Cost Of Living Crisis' report is now available. See how people have made adjustments and whats important to them. -
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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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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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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 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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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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Packed with what we have been doing and going to be doing with messages from our partners. -
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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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This report contains the outcome of engagement work undertaken in relation to loved ones and family members experiences of end of life / palliative care in Walsall and details some recommendations for end-of-life care pathway improvements for commissioners and providers of end-of-life services to consider and respond to. -
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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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Eligible adults in the Black Country can now receive the shingles vaccine.
Shingles is an extremely painful condition which can develop after a chicken pox infection. It can occur at any age, but the risk and severity of shingles and its complications increase with age and is higher in individuals who have a severely weakened immune system.
Some cases can result in serious symptoms such as blindness, hearing loss, nerve pain and potentially death, however the shingles vaccine can significantly reduce the risk of people developing shingles and experiencing nasty symptoms. The shingles vaccine was previously offered to adults aged over 70. However, following
recommendation from the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the vaccine will now be offered to those anyone who is severely immunosuppressed and over 50 from 1 September. Those turning 65 and 70 will also be eligible for the vaccine after their birthday. It means thousands more people in the Black Country will be able to get protected against shingles each year.
There are two vaccines that are used in the shingles vaccination programme. Which vaccine you will be given depends on your age and immune status, your GP will advise on this. Both provide effective protection against shingles and once your course is completed, you will not need any more shingles vaccines.
Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “Shingles is a virus that can occur at any age, but the risk and severity of shingles and its complications increase with age.
“It can’t be caught from other people, instead it develops in people who have previously been infected with chickenpox over their lifetime. The virus is typically reactivated in older age, or by certain medicines, illness or stress.
“Having the vaccination if you are eligible is really important. It can prevent you from getting shingles or reduce the severity of the symptoms if you do get it. “From 1 September 2023, your GP practice should invite you for the shingles vaccination as you turn 65 or 70, or if you are aged over 50 and have a weakened immune system. If they don’t you can make an appointment yourself by contacting your GP.” -
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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 -
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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 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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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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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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Packed full of interesting information, updates, get involved options, and messages from our partners. -
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We will be closed on the 25th, 26th and 27th of December. And the 1st of January 2024. -
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A brief outline of some of the issues and themes that patients have faced when accessing Walsall Services during October 2023.
Also, things that you can get involved with! -
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A brief outline of some of the issues and themes that patients have faced when accessing Walsall Services during Novmeber 2023.
Also, things that you can get involved with! -
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A brief outline of some of the issues and themes that patients have faced when accessing Walsall Services during December 2023.
Also, things that you can get involved with! -
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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Learn new skills to help you to cope with your caring situation. -
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With the start of the new school term and the continuing rise in measles cases across the West Midlands, parents and carers in Walsall are being urged to ensure their children are up to date with their vaccinations such as MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) as soon as possible. -
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To read and download a copy. Use the 'Downloads' button below.
Provider feedback
The below response was received and added.
We at The Willows were happy to welcome the Healthwatch team into the home.
Face to Face relatives meetings will recommence in February 2024, as recent Zoom meetings were not well attended. The Activities Co-ordinator will be inviting residents to a meeting very soon for discussions and recommendations.
We as a home acknowledge the report and look to make improvements for the well-being of our residents and staff. -
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Read or download a copy.
One download is a PDF and the other in Microsft Word format. -
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The Dementia Needs Assessment is being developed by Walsall Council in partnership with the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB). The aim is to understand the needs of Walsall residents with Dementia and those caring, supporting or working with them.
A community survey is currently live for anyone who has contact with the public as part of their work or volunteering role in the community. Responses will help the Council and the ICB understand resident needs, whether services are meeting these needs, gaps in support, areas for improvement, and information, knowledge, and training needs.
The Council would like to hear from anyone who comes into contact or support people with dementia. For example, libraries, community services, places of worship, carers support and dementia care. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and can be completed by going to the survey page for Dementia Needs Assessment 2023: Community Survey. Alternatively you can scan the barcode in the attached poster.
For more information or to request the survey in an alternative format, please
email MWwalsall@walsall.gov.uk. -
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In June 2023, the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) published the local NHS Joint Forward Plan, describing how NHS organisations in the Black Country will work together with other partners, including Local Authorities and the community and voluntary sector, to arrange and provide services to meet the needs of local people.
The following five priority areas were set out in the plan:
Priority 1- Improving access and quality of services
Priority 2- Community where possible – hospital where necessary
Priority 3- Preventing ill health and tackling health inequalities
Priority 4- Giving people the best start in life
Priority 5- Best place to work.
With the second year approaching, the plan has been updated and a sixth priority - ‘fit for the future’ - has been added. This is to recognise that the Black Country health system needs to change the way it works to embrace the opportunities and meet the challenges it faces. -
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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.