News and reports

Parents and carers of children in the Black Country are being reminded of the importance of routine childhood vaccinations.

Childhood vaccinations are safe and effective and are essential for the prevention of several serious diseases.

In the UK, the childhood vaccination programme is highly successful and has resulted in many common and sometimes fatal diseases, such as measles and polio, becoming rare. These infectious diseases, however, have not gone away.

The following vaccines are routinely offered to all children aged 2 months to 16 years:

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine: Protects against HPV, a common sexually transmitted infection that can lead to cervical, anal, and other types of cancers. The vaccine is recommended for both boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 13.

• DTP Vaccine: Provides protection against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). These diseases can cause severe complications and even death. The DTP vaccine is typically administered in several doses throughout childhood.

• MMR Vaccine: Protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Measles, in particular, is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications. The MMR vaccine is usually given in two doses, with the first dose administered around the age of 12-15 months and the second dose between 4-6 years.

• Meningitis Vaccine: Guards against meningococcal disease, a severe infection that can cause meningitis and blood poisoning. The vaccine is recommended for adolescents and young adults, particularly those starting university or college.

Dr Fiona Rose, local GP and Clinical Director for Quality and Safety for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “Routine vaccinations play a huge part in protecting you, your child, and the community against a range of unpleasant and often serious childhood diseases.

Important information.

Final chance for children who have missed their flu vaccines in school to receive them at the following clinic: Blentley Community Centre and Cafe, Wilkes Avenue, Walsall, WS2 0JN. Saturday 9th December from 09.00-1.30

To make an appointment please call 01922 902035

For children who are unable to receive the nasal spray there is an alternative injectable option

Across the Black Country there were than 39,000 GP appointments were missed in September, see news release here: More than 39,000 missed GP appointments :: Black Country ICB

To understand the reasons why people might not cancel appointments that are no longer needed, the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) is encouraging patients to share their views and take part in a survey.

The survey asks about their previous experiences with cancelling GP appointments and what measures they think should be put in place to help with this. It also includes questions such as why they might have missed a GP appointment, for example for issues with travel, work commitments or having caring responsibilities.

The survey is open until 10 December and anyone registered to a GP practice is encouraged to take part in the survey, which can be completed online.

Parents and carers in the Black Country are being reminded to get their children
vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).

Measles is a highly infectious disease which can lead to serious complications if it is not treated. In the most severe cases, it can develop into more threatening conditions such as pneumonia, especially in those with a weakened immune system.

Symptoms of measles include:
• a high fever
• rash
• cough
• runny nose
• watery eyes.

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.
In the Black Country, more than 400 children are eligible for a first dose of the vaccine, while a further 700 are eligible for a second dose.

Dr Fiona Rose, local GP and Clinical Director for Quality and Safety for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective combined vaccine, which protects against three serious illnesses - measles, mumps, and rubella.

“These are viral infections that can spread quickly and make children seriously ill, which is why it’s vital that they get the maximum protection.

“Millions of MMR vaccination doses are given each year to offer the best protection and, speaking as both a doctor and a parent, the MMR vaccine is the best possible way to keep our children safe and healthy.

“So, I am urging parents and guardians to check their child’s red book to make sure they are fully vaccinated against this disease.”

Parents who are unsure if their child is up to date with all their routine vaccinations should check their child’s Red Book (personal child health record), the NHS App, or contact their GP practice.

Adults and older children can also be vaccinated at any age if they have not been fully vaccinated before and are being encouraged to come forward if they haven’t had two doses.

The NHS is urging anyone eligible for an autumn COVID-19 vaccination to book an appointment now.

The autumn COVID-19 vaccination programme started in September, with eligible people invited to come forward and book an appointment via the National Booking System or by calling 119.

Following advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), those eligible for an autumn COVID-19 vaccine have until Friday 15 December to book an appointment. After this date, vaccinations will only be available at selected locations on a walk-in basis.

People eligible for an autumn COVID-19 vaccine include:
• those aged 65 and over
• those that are pregnant
• adults and children (aged six months and above) with certain health conditions
• care home residents
• frontline health and social care staff
• unpaid carers
• household contacts of people with a weakened immune system

If you’re unsure if your eligible for a vaccine, you can check the NHS website here.
Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “Our winter vaccination programme has seen almost 150,000 eligible people receive their autumn COVID-19 booster vaccine, which is fantastic.

“Vaccination remains our best defence against COVID-19 and is the best way to protect yourself, your friends and family, which is particularly important as we approach the winter months.

Be Well Walsall is a new wellbeing service for Walsall provided by Maximus. Our expert team will focus on helping your patients with long-lasting behaviour changes.

This service will be taking over from One You Walsall delivered by My Time Active from Wednesday 1 November.

A new state-of-the-art £12.3 million medical centre in Walsall has now opened its doors to patients.

Located on Hatherton Street, the new medical centre brings together four existing GP practices into one modern, purpose-built facility.

The Limes Medical Centre, Lichfield Street Surgery and Sycamore House Medical Centre have now merged as one practice, Umbrella Medical, and will be located in the centre alongside Saddlers surgery.

By coming together, the two surgeries will offer a greater variety of services to its 27,000 patients, reduce waiting times for patients and provide access to medical specialists. Designed by Gould Singleton Architects, the centre will provide treatment rooms, consulting rooms and meeting rooms. In addition, there will be an on-site pharmacy, as well as 110 on-site parking spaces.

Dr Martin Stevens, Senior GP Partner at Umbrella Medical, said: “We are delighted to finally open our long awaited medical centre. Over 90% of our patient consultations are face to face and our existing surgeries are full to capacity. Our new surgery gives us more consulting and treatment rooms allowing us to see more patients. We will also be able to provide an improved range of services with access to a bigger choice of clinicians.

“The centre is bright and airy, and provides a pleasant and comfortable environment for patients, visitors and staff. There are significantly improved facilities for patients with disabilities or limited mobility, and for children.

“I would like to thank our Patient Representation Group for all the help and support they have
offered along the way.”

Sarb Basi, Director of Primary Care for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “We’re really pleased to be supporting this long-awaited project at a time when demand for GP appointments is greater than ever.

“The opening of this state-of-the art medical centre is an important development for the local community, providing much-needed extra space and additional modern facilities for both patients and staff.

“It will also allow the practices to meet the growth in patient demand as well as offer additional care to the benefit of patients and help us to integrate with wider health services in the area.”

Midlands-based construction company Speller Metcalfe was responsible for building the state-of-the-art facility to meet the sustainable BREEAM Excellent standards. This means that the medical centre meets a number of sustainable standards including energy, waste, pollution, materials and management.

Rob Lashford, Divisional Director for Speller Metcalfe said: “We are delighted to see the completion of this new medical centre for the residents of Walsall. “As a local contractor, we know the difference these improved facilities will make to the provision of healthcare in the area.”

Walsall is in the middle of a £1.5billion transformation with numerous projects currently underway to improve connectivity, increase jobs and housing and provide new business opportunities. The completion of Hatherton Medical Centre is one of many exciting developments that will improve services and quality of life for Walsall people.

Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Wellbeing, Leisure and Public Spaces, said: “The new state of the art Hatherton Medical Centre will be an asset to the borough, serving the community from a central and well-connected location.

“It’s especially exciting to hear that the facility meets the sustainable BREEAM Excellent standards and helps us to move towards our target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The facilities available at the centre will make a huge difference to healthcare services for Walsall people and I am delighted to see the completion of the project.

Have you visited the NEW Emergency Care (A&E) & Urgent Treatment Centre at Walsall Manor Hospital? We would like to hear about your experiences.

We will produce a public report so that you and the service providers can see how the service is being delivered from a patient's point of view. What is working and maybe what is not?

More than 39,000 GP appointments were missed in September, new data for the Black Country has revealed.

The latest figures for GP access shows that in September more than 630,000 appointments were delivered in the Black Country, however nearly 40,000 appointments were recorded as “did not attend” – commonly referred to as DNAs. This is where a patient fails to attend an appointment and does not cancel so it can’t be rebooked by the practice.

To understand the reasons why people might not cancel appointments that are no longer needed, the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) is encouraging patients to share their views and take part in a survey.

The survey asks about their previous experiences with cancelling GP appointments and what measures they think should be put in place to help with this. It also includes questions such as why they might have missed a GP appointment, for example for issues with travel, work commitments or having caring responsibilities.

To help focus our work projects for 2024/25. We need you, the Walsall public, to take part and answer a small number of questions. What you say could help reshape services to improve the service user experiences in the future. Make a difference today!

To read and download a copy.