News and reports

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every walk of life. HWS had spoken to many of adults (aged 18+) who have had their support services disrupted or paused during the pandemic.

This project engaged with young people through the use of a survey and a series of focus groups.

The target population in this project were homeless people in Sandwell. Homelessness has a number of guises, for the purpose of the project HWS engaged with those:

Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Microsoft Teams Virtual Meeting 12th October 2020

Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board
Day 12 October 2020 – Virtual Meeting MS Teams

During the period July – September 2020 Healthwatch Sandwell has collated patient experiences. In addition, we have received service user experiences/feedback via our web-based ‘Feedback Centre’ and since its inception in July 2019 we have received over 220 experiences/comments shared across NHS and Social Care Services.

HWS in partnership with SDCA have created a focus group for deaf and hard of hearing people to share their health and social care experiences in Sandwell. Please find attached our report following a focus group held on the 22nd of September 2020.

From April 2020 to June 2020 HWS undertook a focused piece of work to establish the overall picture of the GP services on offer in Sandwell in the early phases of Covid-19 and the patients experiences of the GP services.

The work that Healthwatch Sandwell has undertaken over the last year was driven by the determination to make a difference and this report highlights where we have achieved this. For example:

When deaf patients persevere with the consultation without a BSL interpreter it invariably results in misinformation and then misdiagnosis.

In total HWS engaged with 68 people, the findings from both surveys have been amalgamated for this report

Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board (HAB) Public Meeting.

Held on Tuesday 10th March 2020 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.
Central Avenue, Tipton, Sandwell