Health challenges facing town in 2023

Stephen Gunther, Walsall’s director of public health, has set out a number of key objectives his team will be focusing on in 2023 as they look to deliver on the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing strategy.

Priorities include improving mental health, boosting services for children and young people and enhancing support for those who need drug, alcohol and sexual health treatment.

But he warned ongoing issues such as Covid and, more recently, Strep A continue to pose a threat and issued advice to help people keep safe.

Mr Gunther said: “We will be focusing on a number of priorities for the borough in 2023 outlined in our Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

“These are to improve mental wellbeing of our communities, improve the health of children and young people to ensure they have the best start in life and develop digital technologies that support people.

“Our aim is for the people of the borough to have the same opportunities of having good health. This is a fundamental priority in our work.

“We are also developing many of our services into 2023. For our young people and vulnerable communities, we will be focusing on enhancing access to our drugs and alcohol and sexual health services respectively.

“For the wider borough, we also aim to have a new healthy lifestyle service in place. Organisations from the across Walsall are coming together to develop a vision for the future of the Borough.

“Thousands of residents and businesses have responded about what they want Walsall to be like in 2040 and beyond. We will be collectively working to make Walsall a cleaner, safer and a good place to live and work.”

He added: “We know that people are feeling the strain of the current financial situation. This is having an impact on physical and mental wellbeing.

“A range of services are available across the borough that can help people who need advice on finance, debt, fuel bills and energy efficiency.

“Several community food banks are also available for residents to access. Further information is available on the council’s cost of living web page.

“We continue to monitor infectious diseases and keep our plans up to date in case to ensure we are ready to respond.”

Despite the challenges, Mr Gunther said the team has carried out a hug amount of work to help improve the general health of the borough.

He said: “We recognise the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had upon physical and mental wellbeing.

“This year, we have focused on ensuring people can continue to access a range of public health services, such as stopping smoking, health checks and supporting young people through our sexual health and drug and alcohol services.

“We have also continued to offer services to support residents’ mental wellbeing, including counselling and bereavement services respectively and signposting to community groups.

“Among all of this, we have continued to protect the health of our communities from infectious diseases, such as Covid-19, avian flu, Mpox and Group A Strep.

“Our local health protection team continue to provide support to organisations and local settings.”

In the short term, health organisations are bracing themselves for what is expected to be a tough couple of months.

Mr Gunther said: “We know that a number of illnesses spread more quickly during the winter, such as Covid, flu, Norovirus and Group A Strep.

“There is an early indication that we might encounter a bad flu season this winter, with more people reporting flu-like symptoms.

“The flu virus changes every year, which is why there is a new vaccination each winter.

“Vaccines remain our best defence. If you are eligible we urge you to come forward to have your flu and Covid-19 booster vaccines ahead of Christmas to protect yourself and your loved ones.

“You can book your free flu vaccination by contacting your GP, local pharmacy or midwife. Covid vaccinations can be booked online via the National Booking Service or by calling 119.

“You can also visit a number of walk-in clinics across the borough without an appointment.

“We should also continue to embrace the simple prevention measures most of us adopted. This includes; staying at home if we don’t feel very well, using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, keeping our hands clean or using sanitiser when out and getting vaccinated.

“They do make a difference and can help to protect us against winter illnesses.”