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Our evaluation report, which features recommendations on Reading’s Community Wellness Outreach Programme, is now live. What is the Community Wellness Outreach programme? In 2022/23, only 6%* of eligible local people (aged 40–74 who hadn’t had a check in the previous five years) accessed a free NHS Health Check at their GP surgeries. It was also clear that some people from different communities across Reading were not attending their GP at all. To address this, the Community W

Opening hours for local pharmacies are listed below. The details are correct at the time of publishing but are subject to change. Please contact the pharmacy before travelling to ensure they are open and have the medication you need. Pharmacy Many local pharmacies will be closed or operating reduced hours throughout the Easter holidays. However, there are still some pharmacies in Reading and beyond you can visit if you want to speak to a pharmacist about any health concerns

In June 2025, the government announced plans to close Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch organisations, with responsibilities expected to transfer through legislation to other parts of the system (subject to confirmation). Following this announcement, The King’s Fund has published a report The Future of Patient Voice: Learning from the Healthwatch Model (commissioned in part by Healthwatch England but developed independently by The King’s Fund). The report looks at th

Kent, England has recently experienced a meningitis outbreak, with two young people tragically losing their lives and 13 others falling ill in just three days. Most of those affected are sixth-form and university students. Meningitis outbreaks like this are rare, but the infection can develop very quickly and become serious. Shared spaces such as schools, colleges, and universities make it easier for the bacteria or viruses that cause meningitis to spread. Certain types of ba

We’re delighted to share this update from Alliance and Cohesion for Racial Equality ( ACRE ) to help encourage our Reading communities, networks and residents to access these valuable vaccine videos. Please share this article and videos so we can all help more people understand their vaccine options and support healthier communities. "Alliance and Cohesion for Racial Equality (ACRE) has launched a new series of multilingual vaccine information videos designed to help more peo

It's so important that you feel supported as a new parent. Read the article below to find out where you can go to get the help you need. Your mental health is important, both for your wellbeing and your child’s. It’s important that you feel supported throughout your journey of becoming a parent and have a safe space to talk about how you are feeling. Take a look at the information below to find out where you can go to get the support you and your family need. Are mental heal

From the end of March, people will start to notice some changes to the NHS App. According to NHS Digital, the app will begin to look different as updates are rolled out over the coming weeks. For some people, the update will happen automatically, and others may see a message asking them to update the NHS app. What is changing? A new “App help” button at the top of each screen will take users directly to support information. Users will be able to view and manage their personal

On 26 February 2026, the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation published an interim report showing the urgent need to improve care for mothers and babies in England. Background The investigation was launched in June 2025 by Health Secretary Wes Streeting to review NHS maternity services across England. Led by Baroness Valerie Amos, the aim is to uncover the “systemic causes of unacceptable care affecting women, babies, and families.” It includes local revi

What is the six-week postnatal check up for new mothers and why it’s important that you attend it? In this advice piece, we cover all the basic questions you may have about it. In 2020, NHS England launched a 6-week mental health check for new mothers to ensure they feel well and have the support they need if they are struggling with their mental health. What is the six-week postnatal check? GPs must offer a six-week postnatal check to all new mothers and birthing p

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has launched its refreshed strategy to improve patient care for 2025-2030. The strategy focuses on the Trust embracing the NHS’s 10-Year Health Plan to lead transformation at the Trust. The Trust says that through artificial intelligence and data, genomics, robotics and advanced diagnostics, it will harness the power of technology to personalise care, improve patient outcomes and increase productivity. The refreshed strategy focuses on: De

Autism affects people in different ways. It can bring strengths and challenges that can affect how comfortable, healthy, and happy you feel. Here's what you should expect from an autism assessment, diagnosis and getting the proper support. There are more than 1 in 100 autistic people in the UK. Getting the correct diagnosis and support is vital. Why have I been referred for an assessment for autism? You might be referred to an assessment if you or people around you think you

We are delighted to share that our report ( Core20Plus5: Exploring the oral health of children aged under ten years in Reading; Norcot, Church and Southcote Wards ) has been referenced in the British Dental Journal * (9th January edition), showcasing the positive impact of our work to reduce oral health inequalities for children in Reading. We'd like to extend our special thanks to our volunteer community connectors and the families who generously shared their time and exper

Jess’s Rule is a new patient safety initiative being displayed in every GP surgery in England from this week onwards. It is designed to help doctors spot serious illnesses earlier by encouraging them to take a "fresh eyes" approach when symptoms continue. How it works Strike One: A patient visits their GP with symptoms. Strike Two: The patient returns because the symptoms continue or worsen. Strike Three: The patient attends again and there is still no clear diagnosis. At

For the first time patients whose prostate cancer has not spread will be able to receive the drug in England, known as abiraterone, as the health service widens access to the treatment. Around 2,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the last three months, whose cancer has not spread, will get access to the treatment if it is of clinical benefit. An additional 7,000 men are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. They will be eligible for the drug, which s

Most NHS care is free at the point of use, however, in some situations, people may be asked to pay for certain types of treatment. This is known as NHS overseas billing. The rules can be complicated, so any charges must be handled carefully and clearly explained. When there are billing errors, it can be confusing, distressing and upsetting for patients and their families. People across Reading told us about being wrongly billed for NHS care at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RB

Sue Ryder has been awarded a major new NHS contract to grow its compassionate palliative and end-of-life care services across Wokingham Borough, Reading, Newbury and South Oxfordshire.   Starting in January 2026, the new services will help more local people living with life-limiting conditions access palliative and end-of-life care to manage their symptoms, provide comfort, and improve their quality of life, often in their own home. These services include: o A new Si

Share your anonymous feedback with us, and we’ll pass it on to the CQC. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated My Homecare Reading and Bracknell as inadequate and has placed it in special measures to protect people following an inspection which ended in September. My Homecare Reading and Bracknell, run by an organisation of the same name, is a home care agency which provides personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of this inspection, 25 people were rece

The Healthwatch Reading office has now closed for Christmas and New Year. Our phone lines are closed and will reopen at 10am on Tuesday 6th January, 2026. Our office is closed and will reopen at 9am on Monday 5 th January, 2026 You can contact us online and leave any feedback: Have Your Say | Healthwatch Reading | Reading . We also have information to help you during the holiday season: https://www.healthwatchreading.co.uk/post/useful-information-for-the-christmas-holida

Below we feature local pharmacy opening times, who to call for non-emergency health concerns, including mental health support, and dentistry. In an emergency People experiencing a genuine, life-threatening health emergency, such as heavy bleeding, significant chest pain or loss of consciousness, should seek help straight away by calling 999 or by visiting the nearest hospital emergency department. Get medical and mental health support help with NHS 111 NHS 111 can also be use

Resident doctors (previously known as junior doctors) are taking industrial action from Wednesday 17 December 2025 to Monday 22 December 2025, locally and nationally. Whilst Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is putting plans in place to reduce the impact this will have on the running of Royal Berkshire Hospital and its other services, some appointments may need to be changed. If your appointment is impacted by this, you will be contacted by the Trust to reschedule your app