Report on the Future of Primary Care in the Black Country

Unpaid Carers in Walsall shared their experiences of primary care services in the Black Country at a focus group held in September 2024. Primary care includes general practice, community pharmacy, dental and optometry services. These are often the first places people go for help with their health. We posted the feedback from this event on our news blog.

More than 1,200 people shared their experiences and ideas with the Black Country Integrated Care Board during August and September. Here are some key themes from that feedback:

Appointments: Many people said it’s hard to book timely appointments and want more choice about who they see and when.

Online Access: While some like the convenience of booking online, others prefer flexibility to use different methods.

Feeling Rushed: Some feel they don’t get enough time to explain their concerns during appointments.

Respect Matters: It’s important to feel respected and treated as an individual by healthcare staff.

Barriers for Some Groups: People from minoritised communities shared unique challenges they face in accessing care.     

Future Primary Care in the Black Country
The official engagement report has now been released and is available for download. Pages 40 to 57 cover the analysis of the microgrant groups which includes Forward Carers focus group with Carers from Walsall Carers Hub. A summary of Carers feedback from pages 55 to 57 can be viewed here.                                                                                                                               

What Happens Next?
The primary care team is using your feedback to shape a better primary care system. This includes:

• Making it easier to get the right care when you need it.
• Testing new ways to help patients, like using pharmacies for common issues and creating community care teams for complex needs.
• Sharing updates regularly so you know what’s changing.     
                                                                       

Get Involved
You can make sure your voice is heard by having your say on the NHS 10 year plan. The government has launched ‘Change NHS: help build a health service fit for the future’. This is a national conversation to develop the 10 Year Health Plan so that you can share your views, experiences and ideas. It doesn’t matter whether you have a little or lot to say. The online portal is open to everyone, whether you’re a member of the public or someone who works in health and care in England. There is also an area of the portal dedicated to responses from organisations.

To get an insight into the sort of questions asked in the survey, take a look at this file. As you will see there is a question regarding your caring role, make sure you have your say.If you are a member of the public, aged 16 and over living in England, a patient, Carer or if you work in health and care, please take this survey.