News and reports

With the second bank holiday in May approaching, people in the Black Country are being reminded how to access NHS services should they need help over the long weekend.

The late May bank holiday falls on Monday 26 May, and some NHS services – including GP practices and pharmacies - may be closed or operating with reduced hours.

A number of local pharmacies will remain open across the bank holiday weekend, offering advice, prescriptions and treatment for common minor health concerns.

From our Annual Public Meeting held in November 2024, through our public listening survey and other data sources, Healthwatch Walsall completed a priorities list on where the public wanted us to focus our work on for the next 12 months. This was considered at the public Independent Strategic Advisory Board on 25 March 2025.

With only one month left of this year’s spring COVID-19 vaccine programme, the NHS is urging all eligible people who haven’t yet had their top-up to come forward.

So far, almost 40,000 people across the Black Country have already come forward for their spring dose but thousands more remain eligible and are being encouraged to act now to protect
themselves before the offer ends on Tuesday 17 June.

The spring vaccination is being offered to those most at risk of serious illness from COVID-19,
including:
• adults aged 75 years and over
• residents in a care home for older adults
• individuals aged six months and over who have a weakened immune system.

Anyone turning 75 between 1 April and 17 June 2025 can also have the jab. Appointments can
be booked online via the NHS website, the NHS App or by calling 119.

Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “We’re pleased that nearly 40,000 people in the Black Country have already come forward
for their spring COVID-19 vaccination, but we know there are many more who are eligible and
yet to receive it. With the programme closing on 17 June, we are urging everyone eligible to get
protected while there’s still time.

“COVID-19 continues to pose a risk, especially for older adults and people with weakened immune systems. The vaccine remains the most effective way to reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalisation.

“You can book quickly and easily through the NHS App, by calling 119, or by visiting the NHS website. So, if you or a loved one is eligible and has not yet come forward, please don’t wait, get your vaccine before the 17 June deadline.”

Those eligible should make sure their appointment takes place at least three months since their last dose.

People in the Black Country are being encouraged to break the taboo and talk about death, dying and bereavement ahead of Dying Matters Awareness Week (5-11 May).

Led by Hospice UK, Dying Matters Awareness Week aims to bring people and communities together to create an open culture when it comes to talking about death and grief, and help reduce the associated stress, stigma and social isolation. The theme for this year, ‘The Culture of Dying Matters’, will focus on how different communities and cultures in the UK feel, talk about, and deal with death and dying – and what brings them together. Dr Fran Hakkak, Medical Director at Compton Care and Clinical Lead for Palliative Care in Wolverhampton, said: “Every year, Dying Matters Awareness Week helps to encourage all communities to get talking about death and dying in whatever way works for them.

“This year, the campaign focuses on the how religious and cultural beliefs shape our views on death and dying and what unites us. Compton Care colleagues will be out in the community, finding out what matters most to the people in the communities we serve, and offering expert advice on how to start these important conversations. “Talking about death can feel uncomfortable, but it’s a conversation that can bring immense comfort, clarity, and connection. By opening up these discussions, we empower individuals and families to express their wishes, plan ahead, and ultimately approach the end of life with dignity and understanding, ensuring their wishes are met.”

This Deaf Awareness Week (5-11 May), people in the Black Country are being encouraged to engage in conversations about improving accessibility and inclusivity for the Deaf community.

Deaf Awareness Week is an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by Deaf individuals while challenging common misconceptions about deafness.

This year’s theme, “Beyond Silence”, calls on individuals, organisations, and communities to go beyond simply acknowledging deafness and actively work towards meaningful change.

In recognition of Deaf Awareness Week, the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) is using this opportunity to raise awareness of a current co-design opportunity aimed at improving interpretation and translation services.

The ICB is recruiting an expert advisory group to help enhance these services, ensuring they better meet the language and communication needs of individuals accessing NHS primary care in the Black Country.
Applications are invited from local organisations, community groups, and leaders with experience supporting individuals facing language barriers or communication challenges.

Stephen Terry, Head of Involvement at NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “Deaf Awareness Week is an important opportunity to raise visibility, promote understanding, and break down barriers for the Deaf community.

“It reminds us of the need for inclusive healthcare and accessible services, ensuring everyone, regardless of communication challenges, can access the care they deserve.

“We are pleased to offer local organisations and community leaders with lived and learned experience the opportunity to contribute to the development of these services through our codesign expert advisory group.

“By sharing valuable insights, experiences and ideas, the group will help ensure healthcare services are more accessible and inclusive for everyone in the Black Country.”

To get involved email: info@healthwatchwalsall.co.uk

High blood pressure is the largest known single modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) which can lead to heart attacks, strokes and dementia. CVD causes 1 in 4 deaths in England - around one death every four minutes and is a leading cause of disability.

As the condition usually has no symptoms, it is estimated that 4.2 million people in England have undiagnosed high blood pressure. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get a blood pressure test, which is a free, simple, non-invasive procedure.

If you're aged 40 and over, you can get a free blood pressure check at your local participating pharmacy, without needing to book in advance.

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.

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 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. 

For further information, visit the NHS Black Country ICB website. 

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.

Walsall Council are looking for local people in Walsall to help shape adult social care services. Want to create better experiences for people who access our services. Involving people who use adult social care services ensures the needs of our community are met.