Advice and Information

With temperatures expected to rise over the next few days, people in the Black Country are being advised to take precautions.

The Met Office, in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has issued a yellow heat health alert, indicating that high temperatures could pose a risk to health, particularly for older adults, young children, babies, and those with long-term health conditions.

Temperatures are expected to increase over the next few days, with the yellow alert in effect from tomorrow (Friday 27 June) to Tuesday 1 July.

To stay safe and well during this period of hot weather, people are advised to:

Avoid going out during the hottest part of the day (11am–3pm)
• Plan physical activities such as exercise or dog walking for the cooler hours of the
morning or evening
• Keep indoor spaces cool by closing curtains or blinds on sun-facing windows
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat if you go outside
• Stay in the shade and use sunscreen regularly
• Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol
• Check in on elderly relatives, neighbours, and anyone who may be more vulnerable
• Be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and know when to seek help.

Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “It’s vital that we all take sensible steps to stay cool and hydrated, especially as prolonged periods of heat can pose significant health risks. People who are older, very young, or living with medical conditions are particularly at risk, so keeping an eye on those around us is more important than ever.

“The main risks of hot weather include dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. These can also worsen symptoms for people with heart or breathing problems.

“If you or someone else starts to feel unwell, dizzy, weak, or very thirsty, move to a cooler place, rehydrate, and rest. If symptoms persist or get worse, visit NHS 111 online or call 111 for advice.”

Parents and carers in the Black Country are being reminded to use their local community pharmacy if their child needs help with minor illnesses or ailments.

The NHS Pharmacy First service allows children to access treatment for five common conditions from
their local pharmacy, without needing a GP appointment.
The aim is to make it easier for people to get the help they need and free up millions of GP
appointments.

Through the Pharmacy First service, children can receive NHS treatment, including antibiotics where
appropriate, for five common conditions including:
• impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
• infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
• earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
• sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
• sinusitis (aged 12 years and over).

Parents can simply walk into a participating pharmacy and request a consultation for their child. If further
treatment is needed, pharmacy teams will signpost families to the most appropriate local health service.
Sukhy Somal, Head of Community Pharmacy Clinical Services, NHS Black Country Integrated Care
Board (ICB), said: “The Black Country ICB is one of the top referrers into the Pharmacy First service.
“As summer begins, we are encouraging parents and carers to think Pharmacy First if their child is
unwell, allowing them to be seen quickly and conveniently at their local pharmacy.

“The scheme enables community pharmacists, who are trained health professionals, to supply
prescription-only medicines, where clinically appropriate, to treat five health conditions for children which
would previously have required a GP appointment.”

The Pharmacy First scheme is also available for adults and covers the following seven common conditions:
• sinusitis (adults and children aged 12 years and over)
• sore throat (adults and children aged 5 years and over)
• earache (children and young adults aged 1 to 17 years)
• infected insect bite (adults and children aged 1 year and over)
impetigo (adults and children aged 1 year and over)
• shingles (adults aged 18 years and over)
• uncomplicated urinary tract infection (women aged 16 to 64 years).

The NHS has created a local social media campaign to encourage people to use this service. You can
view this on the NHS Black Country ICB social media channels.

The NHS in the Black Country has issued important guidance as temperatures climb this week.

The Met Office, in conjunction with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has issued a yellow heat alert as temperatures are set to rise this week, with people advised to take extra care in the heatwave conditions.

Over the next few days temperatures across the Black Country are predicted to reach up to 30 degrees Celsius, with the yellow alert in place from Wednesday 18 June until Sunday 22 June.

Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “While many of us enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather, high temperatures can pose serious health risks, especially for older adults, young children, and people with existing health conditions. These groups are less able to regulate body temperature and are more vulnerable to overheating, heat exhaustion, and even heatstroke.
“Many of these heat-related illnesses are preventable with a few simple precautions. Try to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, usually between 11am and 3pm. Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of cool fluids, avoid sunburn by applying sunscreen regularly, and seek shade whenever possible. If you need to go out, take water with you and wear light, loose-fitting clothing. At home, keep indoor spaces cool by closing blinds or curtains in sun-facing rooms.

“It’s also important we look out for one another. Check in on elderly neighbours, friends, or family members who may need extra support during periods of prolonged heat. A small act of kindness can go a long way.

“By taking these simple steps, we can help ensure that everyone stays safe, comfortable, and well during the warmer months.”

If you, or others, start to feel unwell, move out of the heat immediately and drink some water to rehydrate. If you feel dizzy, weak, or have a headache and intense thirst, visit NHS 111 online or call 111 for more advice.

Eligible people in the Black Country are being reminded to come forward for their spring COVID-19 vaccine.

Since the roll out began last month, more than 29,000 people have already received their spring vaccination.

As with last year’s campaign, those eligible for a vaccine include adults aged 75 years and over, residents in a care home for older adults and individuals aged six months and over who have a weakened immune system. Anyone turning 75 between 1 April and 17 June 2025 can also have the jab.

Appointments will be available until Tuesday 17 June and can be booked online via the NHS website, the NHS App or by calling 119.

Those eligible should make sure their appointment takes place at least three months since their last dose.

Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people come forward for a spring COVID-19 vaccine in the space of just a few weeks.
“The COVID-19 vaccine plays a crucial role in helping to protect our most vulnerable, including older adults and those with weakened immune systems, by maintaining strong immunity and reducing the risk of severe illness or hospitalisation.

“If you're eligible, it's not too late to come forward - even if you haven’t previously received a COVID-19 vaccination, the spring vaccine can still offer vital protection.

“Thousands of eligible individuals in the Black Country have yet to get their spring COVID-19 vaccine. So, if you're one of them, please book your appointment today through the NHS website, NHS App, or by calling 119.”

High blood pressure is the largest known single modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) which can lead to heart attacks, strokes and dementia. CVD causes 1 in 4 deaths in England - around one death every four minutes and is a leading cause of disability.

As the condition usually has no symptoms, it is estimated that 4.2 million people in England have undiagnosed high blood pressure. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get a blood pressure test, which is a free, simple, non-invasive procedure.

If you're aged 40 and over, you can get a free blood pressure check at your local participating pharmacy, without needing to book in advance.

Dry skin can occur at any time of the year, but it can become more common as the weather becomes colder. It can appear at any age and, while it usually doesn’t present any serious problems, it can be associated with other medical conditions such as eczema, contact dermatitis and psoriasis.

The skin is made up of many different layers and it forms a natural barrier to protect our body from the outside environment. To help protect the outer layer of the skin from losing water, the skin produces an oily substance called sebum. If the skin does not have enough sebum, it loses water which causes dry skin.

Common causes of dry skin include:
 Excessive bathing
 Showering, scrubbing the skin while washing, or harsh soaps that dissolve the protective layer of sebum
 Environmental conditions that increase water loss, such as very hot, dry weather or central heating
 Frequent exposure to wind and sun can evaporate water from the skin, making the surface feel itchy and dry.
 Decreased production of sebum, which is often a factor in the elderly.

To help reduce symptoms, emollients can be used to moisture the skin. Emollients are moisturising treatments that are applied directly to the skin to soothe and hydrate it. There are various types of emollients that can be bought over the counter at your local pharmacy to help reduce dryness, relieve itching and soften cracks.

Your local pharmacy should always be your first choice for help with dry skin. Pharmacists are highly trained experts in medicines, and they can offer you advice and treatments without you needing to see a GP.

More than 200 pharmacies in the Black Country are participating in this new service, aiming to increase choice for women in the ways in which they can access contraception.   Oral contraception, known as ‘the pill’, can now be accessed at a pharmacy without a referral from a GP.

Women can also be referred to their pharmacy by their GP practice or a sexual health clinic. The pharmacist will offer a confidential consultation and will offer the first supply of the pill, or the ongoing supply of their current oral contraception. This is an NHS service and so the supply of oral contraception will be exempt from any prescription charges. 

Sukhy Somal, Head of Community Pharmacy Clinical Services for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “This new service is another great milestone in showing how much of an important role community pharmacists are improving wider access to healthcare services.  

“This is a safe and confidential service for women across the Black Country and allows general practice and sexual health services to free up appointments for more complex assessments. 

“Women will still receive their yearly pill check-up, like they would with their GP, which they will have when requesting their next supply of contraception. It is still encouraged to seek medical advice from a pharmacist or doctor if any unusual side effects continue after three months.” 
 
Individuals do not need to be registered with a GP to access this service. Pharmacies will only inform the GP practice that individuals have accessed the service, with their consent.  Business cards are being rolled out for patients across the Black Country enabling pharmacists to write down the date of the next supply of contraception and the name of the pharmacy. Contraception is free and confidential, including for young people under the age of 16. The doctor or nurse will not tell anyone, including parents or carer, unless they think you or someone else is at risk of harm. 

You can now get your contraceptive pill directly from your local pharmacist in confidence.

No appointments are necessary, allowing you to be seen quickly and conveniently.

If you or your family become unwell, you may not always need to see a doctor or get a prescription. Your local pharmacists are clinically trained experts in medicines, managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice.

Pharmacists can help you with common problems such as coughs, colds, aches and pains. They alsomay offer medication advice and free consultations,perform health checks, and treat minor injuries and ailments.

Somepharmacies offer extended opening hours in the evenings and at weekends, and there is no need to book an appointment –just walk in.

As we move into the winter months, your local pharmacy can help you to get the help you need.

Ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend (Friday 18 April – Monday 21 April), people in the Black Country are being reminded how to get the right care if they feel unwell.

Due to the bank holidays, some services such as GP surgeries and pharmacies may be closed or operating reduced hours. However, selected pharmacies will remain open for prescriptions, non-urgent medical advice and treatment of common ailments.

People who need medical help that isn’t an emergency should contact NHS 111 in the first instance by visiting 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111.

NHS 111 can help direct people to the most appropriate local health service if they aren’t sure where to go – this could include an out of hours GP, a pharmacy, a local NHS walk-in centre, or a hospital accident & emergency (A&E) department.

Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “Bank holidays are a wonderful time for families and communities to come together, but we know it can be a worry if you or a loved one becomes unwell and you’re unsure where to turn for support.

“It’s important to remember that NHS services are still here for you throughout the long weekend. NHS 111 is a good first step, whether you call or go online, and they’ll help you get the right care, in the right place, without delay.

“Many pharmacies will also be open and are a great option for advice and treatment for minor health concerns. From coughs and colds, to upset stomachs and sore throats, your local pharmacist can offer expert help without the need for an appointment.

“By choosing the right service this bank holiday, you’ll get the care you need while helping A&E teams focus on those with serious or life-threatening conditions.”

A&E departments and 999 are there to treat the most serious and life-threatening conditions.

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