Advice and Information

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.

There may be useful information and advice

FREE ADVICE and SUPPORT with your home energy.

Women across the Black Country can now get their supply of oral contraception at a local pharmacy, without the need 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, 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.

The Bereavement Journey is a 7-session series of films and discussion groups that gently guides bereaved people through the most common aspects of grief and bereavement to help them process their loss.

Facilitated by volunteers, any person bereaved at any time is helped to consider for themselves the implications of their bereavement and to discern the next steps. For most people The Bereavement Journey provides the tools they need, either to process their loss without one-to-one professional assistance or to identify where further support might help.

For full information download the two documents.

Online peer support group for anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+ who has lost a loved one to suicide. 

Meetings are the last Monday of the month, 7 – 9pm virtually.

Edward’s Trust is a specialist bereavement charity based in Birmingham, providing counselling and holistic support to families in
the West Midlands.

Are you caring for someone living with dementia in Walsall?
We can provide information and advice in a friendly, group setting:
An opportunity for carers to regularly meet and share experiences
Find out about local and national initiatives
Group activities

As the end of the school term approaches, parents and carers in the Black Country are being reminded of the importance of managing their child’s asthma over the summer.

Asthma is a lung condition that affects around one in every 11 children and causes symptoms like coughing, wheezing and breathlessness.

It varies from one child to the next, but most types of asthma can be managed well by using a preventer inhaler every day to control their asthma. A reliever (blue) inhaler may be needed occasionally if symptoms flare up.