News and reports

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.

We followed up on some Enter and View visits from our Pharmacies programme. Visits were made to each pharmacy on 26th November 2024 and compliance with the recommendations were assessed.

To see what we found out during our re-visits, click the link below.

Come and join us at our Independent Advisory Board meeting on Thursday 4th December. All joining details are below.

Below you will see the minutes from our Independent Advisory Board meeting from September 2024.

Take a look at what Healthwatch Sandwell have been hearing from local people during August and September.

Take a look at what people in Sandwell are saying about their knowledge of Pharmacy First Service.

The Trust aims to discharge patients from hospital in a safe and effective manner to return home/community bed/care facility.
The Discharge Lounge frees up hospital beds as early as possible, thus reducing the length of time that patients in the Emergency Department and coming in for surgery must wait for a bed to become available.

Discharge planning is co-ordinated by members of the nursing and medical team. They plan for a patient’s discharge from the time they are admitted into hospital to help ensure it goes as smoothly as possible. The Discharge Lounge is a comfortable
environment for patients who have been discharged from the ward areas by a doctor and are awaiting medication, discharge documents and transport.
The lounge offers a relaxing environment which is quieter than a ward where patients’ needs can continue to be met.

Healthwatch Sandwell published a report Diabetes in Sandwell in March 2024. 10.1% of Sandwell adult patients are recorded as having diabetes, exceeding West Midlands National average figures, projection are that it diabetes in Sandwell will continue to rise. The report highlighted that raising awareness of diabetes in communities and prevention work with patients diagnosed as prediabetic is key to minimising risk of development of type 2 diabetes and reducing the percentage of patients with diabetes in Sandwell and consequent demand on diabetes health care services.

Healthwatch Sandwell collaborated with the NHS Youth Worker Team Manager in Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust to create a report to spotlight a youth worker pilot project for young people with long term conditions. The short funding timelines for the pilot project were highlighted alongside the impacts. The spotlight report called for consideration of extension and time and funding for the pilot project work.

Join us at our next Independent Strategic Advisory Board meeting. All meeting details can be found below.