1. Report -

    The majority of the last year has been spent on setting up the new Healthwatch Sandwell organisation and establishing its partnerships and presence.
  2. Report -

    We have continued to develop ways of engaging with all local people and groups in Sandwell, and the following provides some examples.
  3. Report -

    We have published several reports throughout the year capturing patients’ issues and concerns.
  4. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell has continued to be a key partner for NHS Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG over the past year.
  5. Report -

    A large part of Healthwatch Sandwell’s role is to represent the patient voice and work in partnership with health and social care commissioners and providers.
  6. Report -

    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:
  7. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell often hears from patients saying that it is very difficult to get an appointment at a GP Surgery.
  8. Report -

    We have recently carried out a survey to find out people's preferences when booking an appointment with their GP and how to book.
  9. Report -

    In June and July 2017 Healthwatch Sandwell (HWS) carried out an investigation into the public’s awareness of where flu vaccinations could be obtained, and if they had chosen not to, why not
  10. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell (HWS) are conducting a survey of all General Practitioner (GP) Practices to find out their patient's and visitors' knowledge, awareness, and involvement in each practice’s Patient Participation Group (PPG).
  11. Report -

    Health Overview Scrutiny Committees (HOSC) are statutory Local Authority bodies with the duty to oversee NHS services.
  12. Report -

    This investigation is a follow-up to the earlier Healthwatch Sandwell (HWS) reports published in July and October 2017 which made four recommendations to improve the service.
  13. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell (HWS) are conducting a survey of all General Practitioner (GP) Practices to find out their patients’ and visitors’ knowledge, awareness and involvement in each practice’s Patient Participation Group (PPG).
  14. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell (HWS) are conducting a survey of all General Practitioner (GP) Practices to find out their patients’ and visitors’ knowledge, awareness and involvement in each practice’s Patient Participation Group (PPG).
  15. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell (HWS) are conducting a survey of all General Practitioner (GP) Practices to find out their patients’ and visitors’knowledge, awareness and involvement in each Practice’s Patient Participation Group (PPG).
  16. Report -

    This project aimed to ascertain patients’ awareness of their local PPG and to find out if patients are involved in their local PPG and if they have received any information about it.
  17. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell (HWS) visited Sandwell General Hospital (SGH), Rowley Regis Hospital (RRH) and City Hospital (CH) to evaluate how effective the Purple Points Initiative (PPI) is and to ascertain whether patients and carers are aware of the initiative.
  18. Report -

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

    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:
  20. Report -

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

    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.
  22. Report -

    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.
  23. Report -

    This report looks at the patient experience of using digital technology in primary care services in Sandwell. In 2019 Sandwell ranked as the 12th most deprived local authority area nationally for indices of multiple deprivations.
  24. Report -

    During the period January to March 2021, Healthwatch Sandwell has collated patient experiences. These are sourced from: phone contact with residents/patients, focus groups we facilitate, focus groups we attend, local online forums and service user groups. 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 274 experiences/comments shared across NHS and Social Care Services.
  25. Report -

    Throughout the year a total of 9 Youth Healthwatch volunteers have been recruited and attending regular meetings.
  26. Report -

    During the period April to June 2021, Healthwatch Sandwell has collated patient experiences. These are sourced from phone contact with residents/patients, focus groups we facilitate, focus groups we attend, local online forums, and service user groups and service user experiences/feedback via our web-based ‘Feedback Centre’.
  27. Report -

    Our Healthwatch activities involve signposting the public to relevant support agencies to assist them with their concerns.
  28. Report -

    We heard from a person who was concerned as their consultant had requested a referral from the GP for further treatment and this had not been actioned by the GP.
  29. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board (HAB) Meeting held on Thursday 18 July 2019, 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.
    Central Avenue, Tipton, Sandwell
  30. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board (HAB) Public Meeting. Held on Wednesday 11 September 2019 2.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.
    Central Avenue, Tipton, Sandwell
  31. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board (HAB) Public Meeting.
    Held on Thursday 7th November 2019 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.
    Central Avenue, Tipton, Sandwell
  32. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board (HAB) Public Meeting

    Held on Thursday 9th January 2020 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.
    Central Avenue, Tipton, Sandwell

  33. 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
  34. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board
    Day 12 October 2020 – Virtual Meeting MS Teams
  35. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
    Microsoft Teams Virtual Meeting 12th October 2020
  36. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
    Microsoft Teams Virtual Meeting 27th January 2021
  37. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board
    4 May 2021 2021
    Public Board Meeting Agenda
  38. Report -

    Minutes of Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board
    4 May 2021, 2021
  39. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
    26th April 2022 Minutes
  40. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell Advisory Board
    26 April 2022 9.30 – 11.30 am – Virtual Microsoft Teams
    Public Board Meeting Agenda
  41. Report -

    Healthwatch Sandwell is your independent consumer champion for health and social care services in Sandwell. Our job is to champion the consumer interests of those using the services and give local people an opportunity to speak out about their concerns. We listen to views, concerns, and compliments about services to help shape and improve them so that people are accessing the most quality and appropriate care.
  42. Report -

    Championing what matters to you - To make sure people’s experiences help make health and care better.
  43. Report -

    Residents of Sandwell regularly express frustrations with accessing GP Surgery
    appointments.
  44. Report -

    HWS proposed to engage with people with Sickle Cell (an inherited blood disorder, which predominantly affects people of African and African Caribbean ethnicity).
  45. Report -

    This report will provide an overview of the services at Asda Pharmacy and will provide
    customer experience feedback.
  46. Report -

    At first glance this case study and description of events sound relatively straight forward that
    is, a person with a progressive degenerative neurological disease > receives support at home >
    receives care in hospital > moves to a respite at care home > moves to a more suitable care
    home, however, this person’s experience has highlighted many obstacles within the process
    and has been fraught with difficulties.
  47. Report -

    We expect effective, high-quality support to manage existing conditions and help us live healthy lives and people with learning disabilities and or autism should expect no less and receive the same service as everyone else. People with a learning disability generally have poorer outcomes in life, experience inequalities in access to healthcare and have significantly lower life expectancy (Care Quality Commission, CQC, 2016).
  48. Report -

    NHS GPs in England can be paid to undertake annual health checks for people registered with them who have learning disabilities and meet the eligibility criteria. They must be aged 14 and over and on the practice learning disability health checks register. People with autism without a learning disability are not included.
  49. Report -

    Communication needs due to a disability, sensory loss or an impairment are covered under the Equality Act 2020 and the NHS Accessible Information Standard (2016) which states that NHS funded health and social care providers must meet the information and communication needs of people who access services. Communication should be undertaken in ways that meet identified needs and information should be provided in formats that are clear and easy to understand.