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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 in 2022, the Lost for Words   report (in collaboration with different Healthwatch, and the previous Healthwatch Reading team) highlighted how language barriers were affecting people in local health and social care services. We have revisited this report, and what we found is deeply concerning; many of the same issues continue, with very litt

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...

The University Medical Group is running a patient consultation exercise throughout August and September 2024 about the proposal to close...

An NHS spokesperson said : “The NHS is aware of a global IT outage and an issue with EMIS, an appointment and patient record system,...

25 families from a diverse range of backgrounds, with a combined total of 45 children, under the age of 10 years old, living in 3 of the...

Read some of the ways we've worked together with residents,  local communities and organisations to help deliver change in Reading over...

We are delighted to have launched our first Healthwatch Reading Youth project today, which aims to raise awareness about women’s sexual...

Access to NHS dental care continues to be one of the main issues we hear about from Reading locals but it's an issue that is also affecting people across the whole of the UK. We've put together a Q&A to help you understand what is happening and what to do if you need an NHS dentist in Reading. I am looking for an NHS dentist. Currently , no dentists are accepting new NHS patients across Reading. Many dental practices have very long waiting lists . You can join more than on