News and reports

Take a look at what Healthwatch Sandwell have been doing during March !

We will be holding our ISAB meeting on 9th April, to join, please contact us at info@healthwatchsandwell.co.uk for teams invite!

A child or young person (0-25) is said to have SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which requires special educational provision to be made for them in order to support them to progress. Local service provision is governed by Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015, although other legislation, such as the Equality Act 2010, is also relevant. The introduction of the Children and Families Act and SEND Code of Practice placed greater emphasis on the inclusion of children, young people, parents and carers in planning and decision-making, as well as on supporting aspirations and improving outcomes. This should be facilitated by strengthening joint planning and commissioning of services and the publication of a Local Offer, listing information about local SEND support.

Healthwatch England says “Eye care is the busiest outpatient speciality in the NHS in England, and with an ageing population, demand is set to grow further. According to NHS statistics, of the nearly 59,000 people currently waiting for specialist eye care as of December 2024, only two thirds (66.8%) have been waiting less than the 18-week target set by Government, compared to a target of 92%.”

The Black Country LMNS (Local Maternity and Neonatal System) are currently working to improve the Pelvic Health Care that you receive from the NHS during and after pregnancy. Pelvic health problems may include leaking of urine (pee) and/or stool (poo), prolapse (bulging or swelling), injuries and infection in the area between the vagina and anus, pelvic girdle pain (pain in the pelvic area and/or back) and abdominal rectus diastasis (tummy muscle separation).

One of HWS priorities for 2023/24 is to focus on engaging with under representative groups in Sandwell. Through our engagement work, we found that a big topic for discussion were the issues with accessing GP services. The use of digital applications
(apps) was raised as an area concern for conversation.

We have carried out a project that looks at the experiences of people accessing and using digital applications (apps) for GP services, and the barriers to using them. This report will focus primarily on the NHS app, also referenced is the Air mid app.

This January we have visited a number of places to listen to local people share their feedback on services.

February is Heart Month and Heart UK are asking people to check their cholesterol levels.

Do you know your cholesterol level?
Would you like advice on your diet to try and eat healthier?

PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTORY – This informative document outlines the work all teams sitting within the Public Health directorate.

Healthwatch Sandwell would like to hear your views on what you think our priorities should be for the next year. Healthwatch Sandwell is the local independent voice for the public in health and social care services. We gather feedback from the public about their experiences of accessing and using health and social care services.

Insight and Intelligence Officer vacancies x 2.
Healthwatch Sandwell are looking for two enthusiastic individuals to join our staff team as Insight and Intelligence Officers.

If you live local or have a strong knowledge of the local area and are awesome at meeting new people and easily able to start up conversations, then this may be the role for you. As an Insight and Intelligence Officer, you will use your strong networking and relationship building skills to identify opportunities to get out into the community to gather feedback from the public about their experiences and views on local health and care services.

Have your say on local pharmacy services!

Sandwell Council would like to hear your thoughts about the pharmacy services near you. Your feedback will help to shape the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA), which looks at whether local pharmacies are meeting the needs of our community. The information you share will help decide whether there are enough pharmacies in the right locations, offering the right services, to support local residents’ health.