News and reports

The NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) is working with GPs and health leaders across the lack Country on a programme of work to transform and improve primary care over the next five years.

Primary care includes general practice, community pharmacy, dental and optometry services. These services are often the first places people go to for help with their health.

A five-year strategy has been developed, setting out the ambition for how primary care services can be transformed. It has identified new ways of working which will help reduce pressures, make general practice more sustainable and improve the experiences of patients and staff alike. It will focus on delivering better unplanned, planned and preventive care which will lead to healthier lifestyles and improved outcomes for people across the Black Country.

People in the Black Country are being given the chance to share their views on areas in the strategy, as well as their own experiences and ideas to help transform primary care

Healthwatch Walsall is undertaking a project about understanding people’s experiences of optometry and ophthalmology. We want to hear people’s experiences of eye care services in Walsall. We’ll use your feedback to help the NHS identify improvements.

In this survey, we will ask you about your experience of eye care services in the last two years, including individuals who have in the past or are currently waiting for any specialist eye care treatment.

People in the Black Country are being reminded to order any repeat prescriptions they may need ahead of the summer bank holiday (Monday 26 August).

GP practices and pharmacies will have limited opening hours over the bank holiday weekend, making it more challenging for people to access medicines at short notice and may lead to a delay in getting your medication.

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 spring bank holiday puts added pressure on already busy services.

To avoid this and to ensure health is not put at any unnecessary risk, people who take regular prescription medication are being asked to submit any repeat prescriptions that are due for renewal by Friday 16 August 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:

“We want everyone to enjoy a safe and healthy bank holiday weekend. Running out of your usual medication can be a huge worry and have serious consequences, so it’s important to plan ahead and order any prescriptions you may need over the long weekend.

“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.
“Bank holiday weekends are always busy times for the NHS, so ordering and picking up a repeat prescription in advance really does help us, help you.”

Most repeat medication requests can be made online, via local practice websites or through the NHS App. People who do not use the internet can approach their practice to access their prescriptions.

If people feel unwell over the bank holiday weekend, but it’s not life threatening, they can contact NHS 111 online at 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.

Urgent and emergency care services will also be open as normal over the long weekend.

People should only call 999 or attend A&E services in the event of an emergency.

We are continuing our review of clinical policies in stages to reduce differences in access to healthcare services in the Black Country.

stage 1 concluded on 28 February 2024 – read a report detailing the findings from the involvement exercise and feedback.
stage 2 concluded on 19 March 2024 - read a report detailing the findings from the involvement exercise and feedback
stage 3 commenced on 22 July and will conclude on 16 August 2024
All views gathered in this public involvement exercise will help inform our final decision-making on these policies.

In July 2022, NHS Black Country ICB took over local healthcare planning from the former clinical commissioning group (CCG) serving the areas of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.

Since its establishment, the ICB have been reviewing its clinical policies. This includes:
Reviewing the four existing CCG policies to harmonise them into one new position for the ICB
implementing new policies to take into account national clinical guidelines and best practice.
While the majority of their clinical policies were similar, several clinical policies had some differences. To address these differences, commissioning policies for treatments listed on the webpage are being reviewed to look at how they can be made the same for the places of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.

Clinical experts have looked at the latest evidence and practice for all of these services, both nationally and locally, to ensure the local offer is high quality and safe.

The clinical policy review will be carried out in stages. Stage 3 of the involvement exercise is now live to collect wider views and feedback from local people and staff to inform our final decision-making. The closing date for comments is Friday 16 August 2024.

Visit the ICB website to find out more information and have your say

People in the Black Country are being urged to come forward for care as usual during collective action by GP services which starts today (Thursday 1 August).

GP services across England will begin collective action on Thursday 1 August for an indefinite period of time. While there may be some disruption to services, practices will remain open and patients can make requests by phone, online or by walking in as usual.

During collective action, practices are still required to be open between 8am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.

It is vital that patients still attend their appointments unless they are told otherwise, and practices should inform patients of any changes to services.

The nature of the action means that the impacts will vary at different GP practices, and from area to area, but could include GPs limiting the number of patient appointments per day.

NHS teams in the Black Country have worked hard to plan for disruption and to mitigate this where possible to ensure services continue to be provided for patients.

Patients should continue to use 111 for urgent medical help when their GP practice is unavailable and if it is a serious or life-threatening emergency call 999.

Dr Mona Sidhu, Medical Director of Primary Care for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “During the collective action, our priority is to continue to provide safe care for those who need it. Patients should continue to come forward for care, as GP practices will remain open.

“Choosing the right service during this time is important. It not only means you receive the treatment you require, but also helps reduce pressure on NHS services during this busy time and allows them to focus on who needs them the most.

“Your local pharmacist should also be your first port of call for any minor health conditions. Pharmacists are trained medical professionals who can help with a range of ailments, from abdominal pain and sore throats to coughs and colds and urine infections.

“If you need urgent medical help or advice, you should contact NHS 111 online in the first
instance and they will direct you to the most appropriate service for advice or treatment. If you
call NHS111, lines may be busier than normal so please be patient.”

Local pharmacy services and opening times in the Black Country can be found on the NHS
website.

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. You can contact the service online 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

People should only call 999 if it is a medical emergency.

The NHS 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 hot weather.

Over the next few days temperatures across the Black Country could reach up to 27 degrees Celsius, with the yellow alert in place from today (Monday 29 July) until Friday 2 August.

Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “While many people will enjoy the increase in temperature, spells of hot weather can cause some people to become unwell through overheating, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Older people, those with underlying health conditions, and babies and young children are more likely to be unwell from hot weather because their bodies are less able to regulate temperature.

“To stay safe in the heat, be sure to drink plenty of cold drinks, take cool baths or showers and wear light coloured and loose clothing. Try to stay out of the sun between 11am-3pm and avoid alcohol and exercise as this will prevent dehydration.

“If someone has heat exhaustion, move them to a cool place and get them to lie down with their feet raised slightly. Ensure they drink plenty of water and cool their skin with cold water and fan them. They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes.

“If you have friends, family, or neighbours who you know are more vulnerable to the effects of hot weather, it is important you check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary health advice.

“By taking these precautions, you can enjoy the nice weather and importantly, stay safe.”

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.

Packed full of our work, our past and forthcoming events, and useful patient and public information from our partners.

After the worldwide IT problems recently. We have been told that GP websites are now back to normal. So please visit and use these websites.

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.

Engaging Communities Solutions CIC (ECS) are the providers of local Healthwatch in Bedford Borough, Halton, Sandwell, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Walsall and Warrington. We are carrying out a survey across all seven areas about people's knowledge and experiences of Pharmacy First services that were launched in 2024.

Help us find out what the public know, how they have used the service and what opinion they have of the service.

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

Also, things that you can get involved with!

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

Also, things that you can get involved with!