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Healthier Futures - About us

The Black Country and West Birmingham (BCWB) Integrated Care System (ICS) was formed in 2016 and covers the five places of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, West Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

BCWB STP Map

 

The Partnership is formed of the following 15 local, health and care organisations: 

The partnership has committed to becoming an Integrated Care System (ICS) by April 2021. As an ICS, we will be jointly responsible for managing resources, delivering NHS standards, and improving the health and care outcomes of 1.5 million people in the Black Country and West Birmingham. 

The partnership is led by an Independent Chair, Mr Jonathan Fellows and a lead Chief Executive, Mr Paul Maubach.

Our vision and values

Working together blue two three

 

Healthier people

Our first priority ‘Healthier People’ is about improving the quality of services and placing local people at the centre of their care.

We hope to prevent ill health and reduce the inequalities that exist so that you can:

  • Live healthier for longer
  • Have more personalised care
  • Have access to more digital solutions to support your care
  • Have opportunities for healthy life choices 

We want to work with you to explore the role that you and communities play in supporting local people to be healthier and happier.

The best place to work

Our next priority focuses on our valued workforce. We know that to provide the best quality services we need the highest quality staff.

Together, we will have a renewed focus on retaining our existing workforce, attract more people to work in health and care locally, and by developing new roles to support integrated models of care.

Our workforce will know that we care about them, so that they can care for you.

They will also have

  • Opportunities to develop
  • Have more balance between their work and home lives
  • And more opportunities to move easily between the organisations in our health and care partnership.

Ultimately, we want the Black Country West Birmingham to be the best place to work.

Fit for the future

Our last priority is about how we create a system that supports the integration of health and care services, whilst making the best use of the money we have.

This priority focuses on the system changes that are required to enable front-line services to deliver high quality, accessible care and support.

Local people will see 

  • New state-of-the-art facilities
  • More modern digital technologies
  • Hospitals working together to deliver safe and sustainable services
  • Local integrated neighbourhood teams supporting your social, physical and mental health needs
  • Along with a new dedicated mental health service provider.

In The News

  • Half of Black Country & West Birmingham adults receive COVID-19 vaccine

    The NHS is celebrating an important milestone this week as more than half of all adults in the Black Country & West Birmingham have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. More than 540,000 first doses have now been administered, thanks to the unprecedented scale vaccination programme which has seen people receive their vaccine in hospitals, care homes, GP surgeries, pharmacies and even local sports centres and places of worship. Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Blac...

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  • Black Country Health Chiefs say there’s a COVID-19 vaccine with your name on for everyone aged 50 and over

    Anyone aged 50 and over can get their first dose of the Covid-19 jab by registering on the door at certain local Vaccination Centres now.  Those who are eligible can arrive at on the following Vaccination Centres without an appointment from today until (and including) April 2nd :  Saddlers Centre, Walsall.  Tipton Sports Academy, Sandwell  WV Active Aldersley , Wolverhampton  Or, for the Sadlers Centre and Tipton Sports Academy, they can book by calling 119 or o...

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  • Black Country & West Birmingham to become Integrated Care System

    The Black Country and West Birmingham STP has been given the green light to deliver increasingly joined-up health and care services for the people in our region, as we formally move to become an Integrated Care System (ICS) next month. ...

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  • Liz delighted at inclusion in New Year Honours for COVID-19 work

    A primary care nurse advisor from NHS Black Country and West Birmingham has been included in the New Year Honours List for her contribution to patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Liz Corrigan is General Practice Nursing Professional Lead for the Black Country and West Birmingham Sustainability and Transformation Partnership and has worked in various nursing roles in the local area over the last 25 years. Liz, who lives in Wolverhampton, has been honoured with the British Empire Medal fo...

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  • Local health leaders show support for carers during Carers Week 2020

    Heath bosses in the Black Country and West Birmingham are celebrating the role of carers as part of national Carers Week, especially because of the important contributions they have made during the coronavirus pandemic. This week (8-14 June 2020) is Carers Week – a national awareness initiative highlighting the important work being done by carers in the community – and local health leaders in the Black Country and West Birmingham are supporting this important campaign. Jonathan Fellows, Indepe...

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  • Health chiefs encourage people to visit pharmacies first

    As part of the national Help Us, Help You campaign, health bosses in the Black Country and West Birmingham are encouraging people to visit their pharmacy for advice on minor injuries and ailments. Research shows that 27 percent of general practice appointments in England could potentially be treated elsewhere. Approximately 18 million of these could be treated through self-care and community pharmacies. Many pharmacies are open late, making it easier than ever to get advice. They can advise yo...

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  • NHS rapid response team helps frail older patients

    Against a background of an ageing population and increasing frailty, one NHS Trust has identified opportunities to provide a service targeted at this patient group. The initiative is designed to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions through the emergency front door and keep frail older people safe in their own homes.  Emma Hibbs, Advanced Physiotherapist at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, explains: “We know that nationally around 50% of the population aged 65+ live with...

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  • Healthier Futures partnership secures funding to develop system-wide digital app

    The Healthier Futures partnership (Black Country & West Birmingham STP) has been awarded NHS funding following a successful pitch, to develop a healthcare app which will increase access to services for the local population. The NHS has identified funding to accelerate worthwhile projects across the country, inviting bids from all systems. A very limited number of organisations were invited to pitch to their respective regional digital teams and the Healthier Futures partnership has been su...

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  • It’s all aboard for popular NHS event

    The next stops for a popular NHS event have been confirmed in the Black Country. More than 200 people flocked to the big NHS red bus in Walsall City Centre to bag advice and freebies to help them keep well this Winter. NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups across the Black Country are behind the events, which aim to raise awareness of the simple steps people can take to keep well during winter. The importance of getting the flu vaccine, how keeping warm can help keep illnesses at bay and reminding...

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  • Check in on vulnerable people this Christmas

    People in the Black Country and West Birmingham are being advised to wrap up warm over the winter season and to look out for vulnerable people during the Christmas and New Year period. Local people are being asked to remember older relatives, friends and neighbours as well as other vulnerable people at this time of year. The over 65s and those with long-term health conditions or disabilities are at increased risk of illness during the winter months. It is important to regularly check in on ol...

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