News and reports

Vaccination clinics have been set up across the Black Country to ensure children are up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab.

Measles is a highly infectious disease which can lead to serious complications such as severe lung infections and inflammation of the brain. It can spread quickly among communities, particularly schools and nurseries, if children have not had two dose the MMR vaccine.

All children are invited for their first MMR vaccine on the NHS when they turn one. The second dose is given when they reach three years and four months of age. Having two doses of the vaccine provides the best protection against MMR and adults and older children can be vaccinated at any age if they have not been fully vaccinated before.

The clinics, which are running from March until July, will be staffed by trained healthcare professionals from the NHS and Vaccination UK who specialise in childhood vaccinations and follow all necessary safety protocols. Children will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the clinics.

The DTP vaccine, which provides protection against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) and the MenACWY vaccine, which helps protect against meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning), are also available at these clinics. Both vaccines are given to children aged 13 or 14 (school year 9 or 10).

Parents and guardians of children who have missed or delayed one of these childhood vaccines are being encouraged to come forward. More information about the clinics, including how to book an appointment, can be found on the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board website.

Dr Fiona Rose, local GP and Clinical Director for Quality and Safety for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “Measles is a serious but entirely preventable disease that spreads easily between unvaccinated people, in particular children. It’s highly contagious, so even a small decline in MMR vaccine uptake can lead to a significant rise in cases, which is why it’s absolutely vital that we ensure all children have the maximum protection.

“It’s understandable that parents may be worried about getting their child vaccinated, however childhood vaccines are safe and effective and offer the best protection for children. For decades, vaccinations have protected our children and young people from potentially serious diseases and by the time they leave school, a child will have been offered vaccinations against numerous different diseases or infections.

“So, if your child has missed a vaccination, please contact your nearest clinic and book an appointment – it’s never too late to catch up.”

In the UK, there are two types of MMR vaccine – MMR VaxPro® and Priorix®. Priorix® does not contain pork gelatine and both vaccines are available at the clinics.
Those who are unsure if they, or their child, are up to date with all their routine vaccinations can
confirm their vaccine status by checking:
• their child’s Red Book (personal child health record)
• the NHS App
• or by contacting their GP practice.
For more information on childhood vaccinations, please visit the NHS website.

On this occasion we carried out a project looking at the Accessible Information Standard to ensure it meets the needs of people with sensory impairment.

Guidance from NHS England states:
‘From 1 August 2016 onwards, all organisations that provide NHS care and/or publicly-funded adult social care are legally required to follow the Accessible Information Standard.’

‘The Standard sets out a specific, consistent approach to identifying, recording, flagging, sharing and meeting the information and communication support needs of patients, service users, carers and parents with a disability, impairment or sensory loss.’

This report is a local sample of service user experiences and views.

Available as a PDF and Word document which can be read aloud.

The Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES) is a free NHS service for anyone who is experiencing emergency eye care problems and is registered with a GP in the Black Country.

The symptoms that can be treated by the service includes:
• red or painful eye or eyelids
• recently occurring flashes and floaters
• recent and sudden loss of vision
• a foreign body in the eye.

Adults and children can use the service, which is available via participating opticians across the Black Country, without the need for a GP referral.

This service is not an eye test and does not cover long standing or major eye conditions such as such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. Those who have one of these conditions should contact their optometrist or hospital eye service directly for advice in the usual way.

Sarb Basi, Director of Primary Care for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “It’s important that we look after our eyes by having regular check-ups with an optician. However, if you find yourself with a sudden urgent eye condition, the CUES can give advice and treatment without delay.

“In most cases, the CUES will be able to treat patients quickly and easily. And, if hospital treatment is needed, the service will arrange an emergency appointment with an eye specialist at a hospital – meaning that patients have access to the right care straightaway.

“In the Black Country, there is a hugely talented workforce in primary care opticians who have the equipment and skills required to assess, diagnose and where necessary, treat eye problems. The CUES is a great example of providing more efficient care closer to home by minimising delays and reducing the need for hospital visits, and I would encourage people to access this service if they need urgent eye treatment.”

People can book an assessment with the Community Urgent Eyecare Service online.
You may also be referred or redirected to the service by another health care provider such as a GP, local pharmacist, optician, NHS 111 or A&E.

The self-referral service is coordinated by Primary Eyecare, the largest single not-for-profit primary eyecare lead provider in England.

A brief outline of some of the issues and themes that patients have faced when accessing Walsall Services during January 2024.

Also, things that you can get involved with!

People in the Black Country are being reminded to order any repeat prescriptions they may need ahead of the Easter bank holiday (Friday 29 March – Monday 1 April).

GP practices and pharmacies will have limited opening hours over the Easter bank holiday weekend, making it more challenging for people to access medicines at short notice.

Every bank holiday, NHS 111 sees an increase in people getting in touch about repeat prescriptions. Waiting and using emergency or urgent services over the Easter break puts added pressure on already busy services.
To avoid this and to ensure health is not put at any unnecessary risk, people are being asked to submit any repeat prescriptions that are due for renewal by Friday 22 March at the latest to make sure there is enough time for them to be processed and dispensed.

Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said:
“If you take any medicine on a regular basis to help manage a long-term condition such as high
blood pressure, diabetes, or asthma, now is the time to check that you have enough medication
left to last you over the upcoming Easter bank holiday weekend.

“By ensuring you have your required supply of prescribed medication, you save yourself the
worry of possibly not getting what you need on time and being caught short over the bank
holiday when your GP practice will be closed.

“The easiest way to order repeat prescriptions is via the NHS App or through your GP practice website. If you do not have access to GP online services, you can phone your GP practice to order prescriptions.”

A brief outline of some of the issues and themes that patients have faced when accessing Walsall Services during February 2024.

Also, things that you can get involved with!

The way to order repeat prescriptions is changing.

Notification to patients of a change in service for repeat prescriptions - please read carefully. (As this applies to specific GP venues as listed below).

From 31 May 2024, you will no longer be able to order repeat prescriptions using the Prescription Ordering Direct (POD) telephone service.

Your GP practice will be taking over the responsibility for your repeat prescriptions.

You can order your repeat prescriptions using one of these methods:
• on the NHS App
• by logging into your NHS account at www.nhs.uk
• by requesting a repeat prescription on your GP practice website
• by contacting your GP practice after 10am, to avoid the morning demand for appointments, for support with your repeat prescription request.

If you are unable to use any of these methods, please contact a member of staff at your GP practice who will be able to discuss your options.

The POD service is currently available to patients registered at the following Modality GP practices in Walsall:
• Collingwood Practice
• Forrester Street Practice
• Harden Health Centre / Blakenall Practice
• Keys Family Practice
• Kingfisher Berkley Practice
• Modality Darlaston Practice
• New Invention Practice
• Pleck Medical Centre.
• St John's Medical Centre.

NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board have provided a set of frequently asked questions explaining why the service is closing, what alternative options you have, and where you can go if you have any questions or concerns.

For more information about the way to order repeat prescriptions, please visit the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board's website.

As Muslims begin to prepare for the month of Ramadan, the NHS has shared a reminder about how to stay safe and healthy during the holy month. Ramadan is expected to start on the evening of Sunday 10 March, subject to moon sighting, and end on Tuesday 9 April, during which time many Muslims will fast and not eat or drink during daylight hours. Fasting during Ramadan can be challenging, especially for those living with a long-term health condition such as diabetes, those who take prescribed medicines or anyone who needs a medical appointment during the holy month.

Being active and making connections with others is an important part of our health and wellbeing.

Let's Talk can help to identify what support you would like to access and to make connections in your local community.

For more information, click download for the Lets Talk Service leaflet.

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.

An estimated 1.9 million people living in private households in the UK (2.9% of the population) were experiencing self-reported Long Covid (symptoms continuing for more than four weeks after the first confirmed or suspected coronavirus (Covid-19) infection that were not explained by something else) as of 5 March 2023. Long Covid symptoms adversely affected the day-to-day activities of 1.5 million people (79% of those with self-reported Long Covid), with 381,000 (20%) reporting that their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities
had been “limited a lot”. Long Covid is an emerging phenomenon that is not yet fully understood.

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.