News and reports

Ideas Made Real is for young people aged 16-24 to turn their social action projects and community ideas into reality. Each successful young person will receive an award of up to £8,000 and expert support from United By 2022’s youth team to bring their project to life. Whether it's addressing homelessness, promoting mental health awareness, or improving their surroundings, Ideas Made Real is designed by young people, for young people. Ideas Made Real is part of our GEN22 programme and last year’s projects won a national award.

To celebrate the West Midlands turning 50 this year, Ideas Made Real will hand the reins over to young people to create lasting impacts in their neighbourhood, their community and their home. If you have ever felt that no-one is doing anything about an issue that you care about, then this is for you. Previous participants say that Ideas Made Real made them feel confident and connected, and proud they made a difference for a community important to them, or in the place they call home.

Here are our January Insights from the Healthwatch Sandwell Team!

Click the link below to see what we have been doing.

Here are the meeting minutes from our Health Advisory Board meeting held on 23rd January 2024

We will be holding our Public Healthwatch Advisory Board Meeting on January 23rd. Please contact us if you would like to join us online.

Cancer awareness sessions in the Sandwell area.

Healthwatch Sandwell are aware the challenges people facing regarding getting GP appointments, especially during the pandemic. We would like to capture the other side of GP surgeries, what are surgeries doing to improve the patient experience?

Our priority project for 2023/24 is looking at peoples’ experiences of living with and managing
diabetes, and of health, care and support services. We have teamed up with Diabetes UK and are working in partnership local community organisations to reach and hear from Sandwell residents with diabetes, or pre-diabetes. Diabetes UK has highlighted that more research is needed on the impacts of becoming elderly and
managing diabetes. As people age some may become frail and have other health conditions including having an increased risk of vascular dementia with diabetes.

The Department of Foot Health cares for a wide range of foot and lower limb problems amongst the population of Sandwell and West Birmingham community, with the primary focus on preventative care to minimise the risk of complications which are associated with, but are not exclusive to, diabetes. A number of specialist clinics are provided, tailored to the needs of each patient. These include: nail surgery, neurological foot service, biomechanics, diabetic foot care and specialist wound care management, rheumatology, podopaediatric clinics and Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Asda is the first supermarket in the UK to offer NHS Diabetic Eye Screening in its stores as part of a partnership with In Health Intelligence. The clinic rooms are rented from Asda, but there is no other link with the Asda organisation.

We will be back open on 28th December as normal.

Message from Healthwatch Sandwell Manager Alexia Farmer and update from the team!

Opticians are at the frontline of eye care. By carrying out detailed examinations, they are helping to improve eye health across the country. They also prescribe and fit glasses and contact lenses. Chapman Opticians have a wide variety of frames and lenses giving lots of choice and can advise on styles of eyewear that suit individual needs.