News and reports

Take part in this survey and let us know what works for you and maybe what doesn't. Your valuable feedback will go into a report and be shared with the commissioner of Pharmacy services and you the public.

A brief outline of some of the issues and themes patients have faced when accessing Walsall Services during February 2025.

A brief outline of some of the issues and themes patients have faced when accessing Walsall Services during January 2025.

About 6,000 community pharmacies in England are being advised to start working to rule in two weeks, unless an agreement can be reached with the government on a new NHS contract.

Tell us how using your pharmacy works for you.

Take part in a short survey and you may help with the development of Walsall Pharmacy services in the future.

Following communication from HWE, local HW were encouraged to submit the following questions to their local ICB. HWW duly submitted the questions which had been tailored for the Black Country. The questions were submitted under a FOI request which the ICB duly responded to and gave permission for their responses to be made public via our website. The ICB responses are shown in italics.

Pregnant women in the Black Country are being reminded to come forward for a flu vaccine before the offer ends on 31 March.

During pregnancy, your immune system is naturally weaker than usual. This means you are less likely to fight off infections that can be harmful to you and your baby. The flu vaccine is the best way for pregnant women protect themselves and their babies from serious complications associated with flu and is recommended at any stage of pregnancy.

Walk-in flu vaccines are available at a host of community pop-up clinics in the Black Country over the next two weeks, or at a range of community pharmacies until the end of March.

As well as the flu vaccine, pregnant women are also eligible for the RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine and the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine.

RSV is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs which spreads all year round. It often causes symptoms like a cold, such as a runny nose, cough and fever, however for infants the virus can lead to more severe illness and hospitalisation.

Since September, pregnant women have been eligible for the RSV vaccine from 28 weeks of pregnancy, providing vital protection for their babies against RSV for their first few months after they’re born.

Whooping cough can also be dangerous for newborns. Getting the whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy helps protect your baby from birth until they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves. The best time to get this vaccine is between 16 and 32 weeks of pregnancy.

Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “Vaccination during pregnancy can help prevent disease or make illness less serious for you, and for your baby.

“When you receive these vaccines, your body produces antibodies that pass through the
placenta to your baby. This gives them protection for the first few months of their life
when they are most vulnerable to infections.

“If you have any questions or concerns about vaccinations during pregnancy, don’t
hesitate to ask your midwife, GP or pharmacist. They are here to support you and your baby’s health every step of the way.”

For more information about the flu pop-up clinics, visit the NHS Black Country ICB website. You can also find a pharmacy near you on the NHS website.

The NHS in the Black Country has also created a leaflet providing key information on the
vaccinations recommended during pregnancy, including the RSV vaccine, why they are
important and where you can get them.

The leaflets are being given to pregnant women during their antenatal appointments at
hospital. You can also view the content of the leaflet online here.

NHS are keen to hear the views and thoughts of women in the West Midlands on breast screening services. So they can look at how and if current services could either be improved or offered more efficiently to increase awareness and attendance once invited to breast screening.

Healthwatch Walsall work to ensure that health and social care meet the needs of local people. We know that young carers like you play a vital role in supporting your family members or loved ones, but your own needs and experiences can go unheard. This survey is your chance to share your thoughts about the support available to you - whether from schools, healthcare services, or the community. Your feedback will help us highlight what's working well and where improvements are needed.

People in the Black Country are being reminded of the simple actions that they can take to reduce the spread of norovirus.
Norovirus is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant, but symptoms usually go away within a few days.
Symptoms of norovirus start suddenly within one to two days of being infected and can include:
• feeling sick (nausea)
• diarrhoea
• being sick (vomiting)
• a high temperature
• a headache
• aching arms or legs.

The virus can be transmitted easily from person to person and is usually spread through close contact with someone with norovirus, contact with contaminated surfaces or objects or by eating food that’s been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus.
People with norovirus and in need of medical help are being reminded to avoid visiting services in-person, and instead use NHS111 online in the first instance

atients will be able to book more appointments online and request to see their usual doctor under a new contract agreed with England's GPs, the government has said.

The deal gives an extra £889m a year to general practices, as well as a reduction in red tape and targets that ministers hope will mean doctors are freed up to see more patients.

The Labour government made manifesto promises to bring back "family" doctors and end the early morning phone "scramble" for appointments.

Several partners working in the Borough including health, and the voluntary sector want to ask women and girls about their health. We want to listen to what matters to you and help to develop solutions.

The survey asks a number of questions which will help to better understand women’s health issues in Walsall.