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The Government has responded to the petition to save Healthwatch, after plans were announced earlier this year to close down Healthwatch England and the local Healthwatch network as part of the NHS 10-Year Health Plan. The petition, which is open until  7 February 2026, calls on the Government to: •  Revisit its decision to abolish local independent services that speak up for the public •  Consult with the public to codesign a service which meets their needs and supports the

As part of the Government's 10-year plan to help improve healthcare in England, some significant changes are taking place. These changes will affect how local services are planned and delivered across Berkshire. Local Changes A new NHS Thames Valley ICB (Integrated Care Board) is being developed. This will involve merger of BOB (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ) and Frimley ICBs to form a larger body covering much of the Thames valley. Thames Valley ICB will

Are you referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic test? Was this referral made by a doctor, dentist or another primary healthcare professional? If so, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS). Here are some examples of diagnostic tests: Blood tests Heart tests (ECGs, echocardiograms, and stress tests) Imaging tests (X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds) Lung tes

Welcome to our NHS App information page. This is your one-stop page for support and guidance. Whether you're just getting started or want to learn more, we’ve got you covered. If you can’t use the NHS App on a mobile phone, you can still log in through the NHS website. This lets you access NHS services on a laptop, computer, tablet or phone using the internet. You can also still contact your GP practice by phone or in person. What can you do on the NHS app Order repeat prescr

Alice Kunjappy-Clifton, Healthwatch Reading and Healthwatch Wokingham Borough Lead has been appointed to the NHS Race and Health Observatory (RHO) Stakeholder Engagement Advisory Group. This group brings together individuals from across the NHS and wider communities to support the Observatory’s mission to address race and health inequalities. The group meets quarterly to help ensure the RHO’s work remains grounded in the lived experiences of patients, service users, and hea

Covid vaccine eligibility has changed from last winter. For more information, please click here to visit the NHS website, or ask your GP surgery or pharmacy. As we spend more time indoors, winter is the perfect season for illnesses like flu, COVID-19 and RSV(Respiratory, Syncytial Virus) to spread easily from person to person. The cold, damp weather makes it harder to fight off infections as it puts extra strain on your body. Vaccination prevents you from becoming unwell. If

Our NHS app survey is now open. Share your feedback with us today! The Government’s 10-year NHS plan aims to improve healthcare access...

When people can’t understand or be understood by health and social care professionals, their safety and well-being are put at risk. Back...

The government has now published its 10-Year Health Plan for England setting out a long -term vision for transformation of health and...

You can save Healthwatch Reading from closing down by signing a petition for the Government to review its decision to abolish independent...

Healthwatch Reading has signed a powerful open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. What is the purpose of this...

On Friday, 27th June 2025, the UK Government announced plans to close down Healthwatch. This news may come as a surprise, and we would...

Unlocking the power of people-driven care. Listening to your experiences and views to help improve local services was our priority this...

As part of Dying Matters Week (5–11 May), Reading Council is hosting a free community event to explore what it means to die well, with...

Written by the Healthwatch team This report highlights the experiences and feedback of young women (aged 16-24) across Reading and Wokingham Borough regarding sexual health education and local sexual health services. Our Healthwatch Youth team engaged with young women in various settings, such as colleges, universities, and community centres. 165 young women participated in our online survey—135 completed the survey fully, whilst 30 partially completed responses were excluded

Health information and advice during the festive season, from pharmacy opening times to adult safeguarding concerns, can be found here.

Our phone line and office will be closed from Monday 23rd December and repon on Monday 6th Jan at 10am. We will not answer phone calls or...

At the end of last year, three Healthwatch teams— Reading, Wokingham Borough and West Berkshire—came together after hearing widespread...

Our national body Healthwatch England has released new research which calls for a more personalised approach to cervical screening...

Millions of patients experiencing a mental health crisis can now benefit from support through 111 , the NHS announced on 27th August...