Reports Hub

Consultation by: Birmingham City Council

Birmingham City Council consulted on proposals to repurpose children’s centres and family hubs across the city. Healthwatch Birmingham & Solihull raised concerns about how feedback was gathered, including unclear messaging, late publication of key documents, and limited opportunities for people to attend drop-in sessions. We also highlighted a lack of clarity in the supporting information, which made it difficult for families to understand what service changes would mean in practice. We warned that the proposals risk deepening health inequalities particularly where families may no longer have services within walking distance and recommended that a formal Health Impact Assessment be undertaken. We will continue to listen to local people about the impact of these changes and share relevant feedback with the council.

Consultation by: NHS England

Healthwatch Birmingham & Solihull responded to NHS England’s consultation on the Professional Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery, which included proposals to expand community-based working. We highlighted opportunities for closer neighbourhood working, improving understanding of local needs and reinforcing nurses and midwives as trusted sources of information. We raised concerns about communication and stressed early community involvement to build trust. We expect a clear public communication plan and detail on ongoing engagement in the final strategy and will continue sharing local insights.

Consultation by: Birmingham and Solihull Health and Wellbeing Board

Healthwatch Birmingham & Solihull responded as a stakeholder to the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for 2025–2028. We welcomed its quality and recognition of our Think Pharmacy First findings. We called for greater use of patient experience data and ongoing reviews of geographical coverage, noting concerns about rural and deprived areas like Meriden and Hampton in Arden. We highlighted difficulties accessing information on specialist services and urged clear, accessible formats. We supported expanding community pharmacy services but stressed public understanding and continuity of care.

Earlier this year, women in Solihull told Healthwatch about the challenges they faced getting support for menopause. Their feedback has already driven real change.

Now, thanks to their feedback, NHS teams and local partners are taking clear steps to improve care.