News and reports

Part of Healthwatch Sandwell remit is to carry out Enter and View visits. Healthwatch Sandwell Authorised Representatives (AR) will conduct these visits to health and social care premises to find out how they are being run and make recommendations where there are areas for improvement.

We want to hear from you!

Are you aged 55 or over and living in Sandwell?
We’d like your views on the kind of support that can help people stay healthy, active, and independent for longer – and what would make it easier to access this support.
Your answers will help us understand local experiences, identify gaps, and inform the way services are planned and developed.

Healthwatch Sandwell is working to understand the experiences of people affected by cancer in our area. By sharing your story through our survey, you can help us identify what's working well and where improvements are needed in cancer care and support services.

Do you qualify for free NHS prescriptions?

Healthwatch England says "Most adults in England have to pay for their prescriptions. The NHS prescription charge is usually £9.90 per item. Some items, like contraceptives, are free.

Some people get their prescriptions for free. A lot of people know they get free NHS prescriptions if they're under 16 or over 60. But you can also qualify for free prescriptions for other reasons, such as if you have certain medical conditions or receive certain benefits."

Our Insight Report is now LIVE! See what the team have been doing during April - June this year!

The Midland Metropolitan University Hospital (MMUH) opened on 6 October 2024.
With such a huge change in patient service delivery locations, there are challenges for patients, visitors and staff wayfinding around the hospital. The usefulness and effectiveness of hospital signage is a key part of the experience people receive.
The term wayfinding describes the processes people go through to find their way round an environment. The wayfinding process is fundamentally problem-solving and is affected by many factors, people’s perception of the environment, the wayfinding information available, their ability to orientate themselves spatially, and the cognitive and decision-making processes they go through, all affect how successfully they find their way.”

Healthwatch Sandwell held a focus group to understand how their stakeholders perceive Healthwatch Sandwell and the delivery of the service. The discussion was based upon the five values that were developed by Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch aim to embody. Stakeholders were invited by email to take part in the online focus group and this report outlines the themes from the discussion that took place.

This report evaluates patience experiences across three separate visits at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital to:
➢ The Main Emergency Department (ED)
➢ The Children's Emergency Department (CED)

We have published our Annual Report for 2024/25, showcasing the voices of local people and the impact of their feedback on health and social care services. From GP access to SEND support, the report highlights the real experiences of Sandwell residents and how their views have helped shape improvements across the system.

In 2024–2025, Healthwatch Sandwell reached an incredible 24,117 people through outreach, face-to-face engagement, and digital platforms. We continued to listen to local people, amplifying their voices across health and social care. Our team has worked consistently to ensure that the experiences and concerns of Sandwell residents help shape and improve local services.

Inside this pack, you will discover a wealth of valuable advice and information that you can effortlessly share to raise awareness about the various support options provided by HEAT for UK households.

Sandwell All Age Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Directory for 2025

This is the 3rd edition of the directory for children, young adults, and families.

The services listed have confirmed their funding for 2025-2026, ensuring their availability and support throughout the year.