Exercises to test emergency responses and procedures at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust are set to take place over the coming weeks.

These exercises will involve the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), who will be on-site to conduct patient transfer drills.

The planned route includes arrival and parking near Walsall Manor Hospital’s main entrance and using a pre-planned location in the maternity block.

The activities are part of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) programme.

The NHS must be ready to manage a wide range of incidents and emergencies that could impact health services or patient care. Exercises like these are essential for testing and validating the plans in place should an emergency occur.

Liam Ferris, Head of EPRR, said: “This is an important collaboration that strengthens our partnership and provides a valuable opportunity to test and validate emergency plans across both organisations.

“During the exercise, specialist vehicles will be visible near the hospital’s main entrance.

“Normal hospital operations will not be affected, but we want to make the public aware to avoid any unnecessary concern.”

Scheduled dates:

• Saturday 27 December 2025
• Tuesday 30 December 2025
• Thursday 8 January 2026
• Thursday 15 January 2026
• Thursday 22 January 2026
• Thursday 29 January 2026
• Thursday 5 February 2026

Liam added: “We would like to thank the public in advance for their understanding and support while these exercises take place.”