What’s going on in the Agewell Local Forums - April 2007

In April 2007 all six Agewell local forums have been involved in a number of pieces of work.

At the Tipton local forum meeting they received a talk from Mrs Margaret Scott, who volunteers as a welfare visitor within Sandwell’s branch of the Parkinson’s disease Society (PDS).

Parkinson’s is an incurable disease which affects control of the muscles and causes paralysis or tremor. PDS offers information, advice and support to patients and their family.

However many Tipton residents are not aware that they can get help from this organisation, which operates Sandwell wide. PDS has a network of volunteer visitors. Their contact Tel. no. is 0121 552 1783.

At the meeting before that members contributed their local knowledge to a report which Agewell has sent to Councillor Bob Badham, Sandwell MBC Cabinet member for Regeneration and Transport, about deficiencies in the whole bus network in Tipton.

The West Bromwich local forum had a presentation and aired their views on Practiced Based Commissioning. Members talked to Dr Colin Browne and Steve Phillips about health concerns in the context of practice based commissioning. Issues raised by members were:

• Access to GPs
• Needs of Great Barr area
• Improvement in social care
• Blood tests
• Chiropody
• Audiology
• Receptionist training
• Out of hours service.

Dr Browne said that through GPs collaborating and combining resources they had the potential to invest more in GP services and get better access.

The Wednesbury local forum predominantly looked at the elections for the Agewell Sandwell group. Nominations were put forward and six members of the Wednesbury local forum were put forwarded to represent their forum at the Agewell Sandwell meetings.

The Rowley Regis local forum looked at a number of items. One of which was the Expert Patient Programme. There was huge interest from members who requested an Expert Patient course in the area. Kath Bench from Active Sandwell also discussed the possibility of a tea dance to the area for which members were very eager to do.

Finally discussions continued about the format of the 1st Rowley Regis Older People’s Conference and member’s involvement in this.

At the Smethwick local forum Sandwell Primary Care Trust Food team attended. Members discussed food issues that affect them as older people as well as enjoying a smoothie! Members also discussed how they would like to take the forum forward and the up and coming Agewell Sandwell nominations.

The Oldbury local forum had a talk from the Active Sandwell coordinator Deborah Davies who informed members of the various leisure activities available to older people in Sandwell, whilst also asking what activities they wanted specifically in Oldbury.

Judy Blaney gave a presentation on Sandwell Primary Care Trust’s Expert Patient Programme and a number of forum members expressed an interest in this.

Back to Agewell Activities