Walsall Holiday Activity & Food Programme 2023

What’s on offer?

A free and exciting holiday programme for children and young people aged 5 to 16 who are eligible for free school meals. The programme is running over Easter, Summer and Christmas 2023.

Take part in:

  • Holiday Clubs
  • Multi sports activities
  • Football
  • Swimming
  • Drama
  • Arts and crafts
  • Cooking
  • Graphic design
  • Gaming
  • and much more…

How to register and book for the 2023 programme?

Each eligible child will be sent a letter with a unique code on, if you are eligible and haven’t received one send an email to [email protected].

To register for the programme you can visit the website
www.walsall.gov.uk/children_and_young_people/haf_signup
or call the Holiday Activities helpline on 01922 653899

Once you have registered your child you will be able to book them onto activities.

Cold Weather Alert (6/3/23 → 9/3/23)

The Met Office has issued a warning of cold weather over the coming days.

Make sure you know how to stay warm and well.

For helpful advice, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/keep-warm-keep-well/

If you have a long-term health condition cold weather can make it worse.  

If you start to feel unwell you should: 

  • Speak to your local pharmacist 
  • Contact NHS 111 

The sooner you get advice, the sooner you are likely to get better. 

UK weather warnings – Met Office

Bye Bye UTI

Think you have a Urinary Tract Infection?

No need to book an appointment with your GP.

Your local pharmacy can now provide immediate advice & treatment for a UTI for women aged 16-64 – with no appointment required.

1 in 2 women experience a Urinary Tract Infection in their lifetime  

If you have a:   

  • burning sensation when weeing
  • need to wee urgently or frequently
  • have cloudy wee or there’s not much coming out

Speak to your pharmacist today and say #ByeByeUTI

Available at participating pharmacies only: Bye Bye UTI :: Black Country ICB

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Bowel Cancer Screening

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. However, the number of people dying has fallen in recent decades, with earlier diagnosis being the key. Yet still, the latest data shows that almost one third of people who were sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit in England last year did not go on to complete it.

The NHS bowel cancer screening kit detects signs of cancer before you notice anything wrong. Detecting bowel cancer at the earliest stage makes you up to 9 times more likely to be successfully treated. So if you’re aged 60 to 74 (lowering to 50 by 2025), live in England and registered with a GP practice, you’ll be sent a kit in the post automatically, every two years.

The kit is quick to complete and can be done in the privacy of your own bathroom using the step-by-step instructions on the box. You only need to collect one tiny sample of poo using the plastic stick provided, pop it in the sample bottle and post it for free, to be tested.

If something is found, you will be invited to have further tests, usually at a hospital.

The test works by checking for tiny traces of blood, which may not be visible to the naked eye. Blood in your poo is one of the signs of bowel cancer, but does not always mean cancer. Instead, it could be a sign of piles or polyps (growths in the bowel). Polyps are not cancer but could develop into cancer over time.

So if you’re sent the kit, help yourself by remembering to complete it. Put it by loo. Don’t put it off.

Bowel cancer screening – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Breast Screening

Breast screening (mammogram) – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

All women aged 50 and over are entitled to a regular breast screening. Don’t miss your appointment, it could save your life.

1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer at some time in their life.

Breast cancer is more common in women in your age group.

Most breast cancers found during breast screening are at an early stage when there is a good chance of a successful recovery.

Breast screening is the most effective way of detecting breast problems at an early stage using mammography (x-ray of your breasts)

www.bscreen.org.uk/city

📞 0121 507 4967 (option 1)

📧 [email protected]


NHS urges people to book their cervical screening

Latest data shows that nearly a third (30%) of those who are eligible for their cervical screening have not taken up the offer of the potentially lifesaving test.

The NHS is calling on anyone eligible who has not yet come forward, to book an appointment, as these checks save lives and combined with the HPV vaccination programme could make cervical cancer a thing of the past.

The call comes as cervical cancer charity, Jo’s Trust, launches its annual Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (23-29 Jan 2023) to raise awareness of cervical cancer and to drive uptake in the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

Around 2,700 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer in England each year and approximately 690 die from the disease – around two deaths every day.  The NHS Cervical Screening Programme helps save thousands of lives per year and those who are invited are being encouraged to ensure they attend their screening.

In the last year (21/22) the NHS sent out more screening invitations than ever before – more than 5 million – and 3.5 million people came forward for testing.

Cervical screening can prevent up to 75% of instances of cervical cancer and is estimated to save thousands of lives per year.

It’s important that you attend your cervical screening when invited. If you missed your last cervical screening, book an appointment with your GP practice now – it is not too late.

Cervical screening – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Safe Surgeries

We are proud to be a safe surgery for everyone in our community, and pledge to ensure that everyone in our community receives the quality healthcare they are entitled to.

In partnership with Doctors of the World UK, we will ensure that our practice offers a welcoming space for everyone who seeks to use our services. We will ensure that a lack of identification, proof of address, or immigration status do not prevent patient registration.

As a member of the Safe Surgeries community, we will endeavour to support other Safe Surgeries and the development of the network.

You can learn more at Doctors of the World UK

Don’t have documents? Don’t worry.. 
We are a Safe Surgery for everyone in our practice area.
We might ask for ID or proof of address. But if you don’t have any and you live in our practice area, you can still register with us.
We won’t ask for immigration documents.
What it means to be a Safe Surgery..
All are welcome! Your nationality or immigration status do not affect your right to register here.
Everyone living in England has the right to free care from a GP.
Ask reception for an interpreter if you find it difficult to communicate in English.
Our receptionists won’t ask you about your immigration status.
If you are worried about giving us your address, please let us know. Your information is safe with us.
If you wish to register, please speak to a member of staff who can help and support you with the process of registration.

Where to go for the right medical help

Find the right NHS service for your medical need; help us help you before your illness gets worse.

Go to https://blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/health-advice/stay-well-this-winter

  • 999
    Dial 999 in life threatening emergencies
  • 111
    If you need urgent medical help, but you’re not sure if you need to go to A&E, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
    You’ll get assessed and directed to the right place for you.
    111 online is for people aged 5 and over.
  • Pharmacy or GP Practice
    For all other health needs, contact your pharmacy or GP practice.
    You can also access NHS advice and information at www.nhs.uk

Contacting Your GP Practice

There are three ways to get in touch with us this at this GP practice.

It’s no secret that our surgeries have been busier than ever. That’s why there are now more ways to get in touch with us. You can:

Pick the option that suits you best. No matter how you choose to get in touch with us, whether it’s using an online form, calling or visiting, you’ll get the help that’s right for you.        

Getting back to you 

No matter how you get in touch, you’ll get the help that’s right for you.    

We may: 

  • Book a face-to-face appointment for you 
  • Arrange a phone or video consultation  
  • Send you a text message, for example, inviting you for a blood test 
  • Arrange a home visit, or
  • Refer you to another service.

However we respond, you can rest assured that we’re always looking after your needs.  

Help us, help you 

When requesting care, whether online, by phone or in person, it helps us if you explain what’s wrong. This ensures you get the care you need at the right time from the right person – for example, from the doctor or nurse who normally treats you. It also helps our medical team to prioritise those who need care most. 

 If you prefer not to say – for example, when talking to our reception team – they will always respect your privacy. However, it’s an important part of their job to ask, so thank you for your support with this. 

Please also tell us if:

  • You would prefer us to talk with you by phone, face-to-face or by video call 
  • You need to speak to a particular person because they have treated you before
  • There are certain times of day when you can’t talk, for example you are at work, at school or college
  • You need English to be interpreted, you need help from another person at your appointment, or if you have other communications needs.

We will do our best to meet your needs in the way you would like, but please bear in mind that if you are unwell, our priority will be to ensure you receive care quickly.  

Help from your local pharmacy team  

Your local community pharmacist and their team can help and support with minor illnesses. As dedicated, qualified health professionals, and experts in medicines, they can offer clinical advice, consultations and over the counter medicines to help safely manage a wide range of minor health concerns. Many pharmacies also offer a range of new NHS clinical services including blood pressure testing.

For urgent medical help

If you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do, NHS 111 can help. Call or go online, 111.nhs.uk.

For life-threatening emergencies, dial 999.

Talk to us

If you would like any further information, please speak to us next time you’re in touch.   

Information in BSL