News and reports

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One download is a PDF and the other in Microsft Word format.

Our complaints process outlines how to make a complaint about us and our approach to making sure complaints are resolved.

As a consumer champion for the public, Healthwatch Walsall (HWW) regularly listens to experiences about unsatisfactory care and signposts to the most appropriate complaints handler.

Eligible people in the Black Country will be invited to come forward for spring COVID-19 vaccine from this week.

Following guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) the latest phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme has now started, with care home residents first in line to receive a spring vaccine dose.

The offer will then be opened up to the remaining eligible groups, including:
• adults aged 75 years and over (including those who turn 75 by 30 June 2024)
• those aged six months and over who have a weakened immune system.

People who are admitted to an older adult care home or become immunosuppressed by 30 June are also eligible. Those eligible for a spring vaccine will be contacted by the NHS by letter, text message or via
the NHS App. Appointments can be booked via the National Booking System, with first appointments available from Monday 22 April.

If you know you are eligible, you do not have to wait to be invited, you can book on National Booking System once it is open. Walk-in appointments are also available at selected locations and you can find your nearest site by visiting the NHS online walk-in finder.

Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “Vaccination has been our most effective tool against COVID-19 and remains the best way to stay protected.

“Having the spring vaccine helps prevent vulnerable people from becoming seriously ill or needing treatment in hospital and over the coming weeks, everyone aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and people with a weakened immune system will be offered a vaccination.

“So, if you’re in one of the eligible groups, please take the opportunity to top up your protection as soon as you can.”

For more information on the spring vaccine, please visit the NHS website.

NHS 111 triages people's medical needs to enable them to access the appropriate services or to provide advice on self-care where relevant. We want to know if this process is working for you and understand your experiences of using the service.

Here is what you said.

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

Also, things that you can get involved with!

Packed full of updates, report updates and information from our partners about your health and social care services

Read or download a copy.
One download is a PDF and the other in Microsft Word format.

Teenage pregnancy was chosen as one of our priority projects for 2023-2024. We met with Local Authority staff and from this meeting it was clear most of the work we would be undertaking would be around communication, which is something we had already covered in our Young Persons Communication Around Health and Social Care Services Report. We then met with Walsall Teenage Pregnancy Lead; from this we were invited to engage with young people who are currently attending 2 programmes that are running in Walsall, Teens & Toddlers and Thrive.

The minutes from our open to the public session of our meetings.

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.