The borough’s Rheumatology service, which is run by Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, may close due to its size – with plans being drawn up to have a service covering the whole of the Black Country.
Health bosses behind the Black Country’s Strategic Transformation Plan (STP), have said it is difficult to recruit and keep consultant rheumatologists for the service.
It is currently made up of two consultants and clinical nurse specialists. Arthritis and back pain are among the conditions treated.
The STP states: “We already have well advanced discussions regarding the Rheumatology service, which is unsustainable in Walsall due to the small size of the service making recruitment and retention of consultant rheumatologists really difficult.