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On Tuesday 13th October, the future of Healthwatch was a key topic during the House of Lords' second reading of the Health Bill. The Bill currently proposes the closure of Healthwatch at both national and local level. Peers used the debate to explore the Bill's key measures, raising questions and suggesting areas where amendments may be required. Many Peers recognised the importance of an independent patient voice, highlighting Healthwatch's role in making sure people's exp

We are pleased to share our summary report and infographic series from our NHS App project, in partnership with Healthwatch Wokingham Borough. Throughout the project, we listened to people across the borough and Reading about their experiences of using the NHS App. Through our joint survey, community conversations and engagement activities, we gathered a significant amount of feedback and insights from local people. Our summary report brings this together into four key he

Alongside completing our NHS App survey, residents shared their experiences of using the NHS App and accessing healthcare through other digital services during community conversations and engagement activities across the borough and Reading. A key theme that emerged from this feedback is a need for a simpler and more joined-up digital healthcare experience. While many residents valued the convenience of managing appointments, prescriptions and health records online, others de

Using the NHS App isn’t always straightforward. We wanted to hear from local people about their experiences of getting help with the App; who they turn to and what they need help with. During our NHS App project people Reading and Wokingham Borough told us about the different ways they get support, from family and friends, community groups to their GP surgery. But we also found that formal support, such as commissioned digital café sessions were rarely used because people di

Following our first infographic exploring residents’ experiences of the NHS App, we’re sharing the next set of findings from our survey results and conversations with local communities. Our findings show that nearly 1 in 2 people surveyed across Reading do not currently use the NHS App. When responses from Reading and Wokingham Borough are combined, this figure is 1 in 3 people. People told us there are several reasons for this, including preferring traditional ways to access

A huge thank you to everyone who supported our NHS App project, completed our survey, left comments on our social media channels or spoke to our engagement officers at local community events – your voice matters and helps improve services and care. Between October 2025 and January 2026, we heard from 483 residents across Reading. In total, we received 1,436 responses, including 953 responses from Wokingham Borough. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be running a campaign to share

Last updated August 2026 Welcome to our NHS App information page. This is your one-stop page for support and guidance for using the app. 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 your mobile phone, you can still access the same services and information through the NHS website. You can log in online using a laptop, computer, tablet or phone with internet access: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/ You can also co

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

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