We're delighted to announce that we have moved to new office space in Reading. The recently expanded team are now available five days a week at Oxford Road Community Centre. Our full address: Oxford Road Community Centre, 344 Oxford Road, Reading, RG30 1AF Our phone number remains the same: 0118 214 5579

From January 31 patients will be able to get treatment for seven common conditions at high street pharmacies across the UK without needing to see a GP, as part of a major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care and services. Highly trained pharmacists will be able to assess and treat patients for: sinusitis sore throat earache infected insect bite impetigo shingles uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (under the age of 65) without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. It builds on the successful expansion of the contraceptive pill service in December 2023, with more than 5,000 pharmacies now registered to offer women the chance to get a supply of oral contraception over the counter from their pharmacy without needing first to see their GP. In future, the NHS expects almost half a million women a year to receive their contraception from their high street pharmacist. What does this mean for Reading locals? Over 400 pharmacists will have been trained for the Pharmacy First service by the middle of March across the Southern Counties which includes Berkshire ( and Reading). Every pharmacy locally has opted into the Pharmacy First service. All practices have up-to-date information on which pharmacies are providing the Pharmacy First service and will make referrals to the appropriate pharmacy based on patient choice and the appropriate pharmacy. Should a patient walk into the pharmacy, and that pharmacy is unable to provide the Pharmacy First service, the patient will be signposted to another pharmacy, as training continues. Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said: “GPs are already treating millions more people every month than before the pandemic, but with an ageing population and growing demand, we know the NHS needs to give people more choice and make accessing care as easy as possible. “People across England rightly value the support they receive from their high street pharmacist, and with eight in ten living within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy and twice as many pharmacies in areas of deprivation, they are the perfect spot to offer people convenient care for common conditions. “This is great news for patients – from today you can pop into one of more than 10,000 high street pharmacies in England to get a consultation on seven common conditions including ear-ache, a sore throat or sinusitis at a convenient time, with many pharmacies open late into the evening. Community pharmacies already play a vital role in keeping their local communities healthy and well. And pharmacists are now ramping up the number of life-saving blood pressure checks given to at-risk patients over the next year with a commitment to deliver 2.5 million a year by Spring 2025 – up from 900,000 carried out in 2022. It is estimated this could prevent more than 1,350 heart attacks and strokes in the first year. The Government has made £645 million of new funding available to support the continued expansion of community pharmacy services. one to the development of other NHS clinical services in the future, as patients become familiar with going to their local pharmacy for primary care.” Louise Ansari, Chief Executive, Healthwatch England, said: “As with access to the contraceptive pill announced last month, patients will welcome the extension of pharmacy services to include common conditions. It will offer them greater flexibility and provide a safe alternative to seeing a GP, which we know remains a real challenge for many people across England. “It will, however, take time for pharmacists to get trained and ready for change. Patients and GP services need up to date information on which of their local pharmacies are offering direct supply of medicines for one, some, or all seven of the new conditions. Investment in a national campaign to raise awareness of the new services and build trust in pharmacists will also be essential and, crucially, this will need to reach all communities to be effective.”

Update 5/2/2024: Thank you for your interest in our dental project. We have now recruited all the families needed for this project. If you'd like more advice and information on dentistry, please click here. If you live in the wards of Southcote, Norcot or Church, and have a child or children under the age of 10 years, we'd love to hear from you. We're collecting families' experiences (good or bad) of looking after your child/children's teeth and going to the dentist. Sharing your experiences anonymously on dentistry will help improve services for families across Reading as we will be taking your feedback to the people to fund and run the services. As a thank you for sharing your views with us, you'll receive a £20 gift voucher and a goodie bag. Interested and want to know more? Please email Tariq and Zainab info@healthwatchreading.co.uk or call the office on 0118 241 5579. If you know anyone who may be interested in participating please share this article with them and the local communities - thank you.

Jigsaw Creative Care provides respite care services for adults with learning disabilities, as well as accommodation and personal care for up to 3 people at any one time. During its last inspection, the CQC had concerns about premises and documentation within people’s care files, so they widened the inspection to look at effectiveness, caring and responsiveness. The CQC inspection found breaches in safe care and treatment, and good governance. You can read the full report here. How you can give feedback Your feedback about Jigsaw Creative helps us inform the CQC about whether the services are improving. If you have an experience to share (good or bad), please click here to contact us online orvia email info@healthwatchreing.co.uk You can also call us on 0118 214 5579.

Cervical cancer screenings also known as smear tests save at least 2,000 lives every year in the UK. Here's what you should expect from your smear test and why these screenings are important. One in 142 women in the UK will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in their lifetime. A cervical cancer screening, better known as a smear test, can detect the development of abnormal cells in the cervix and prevent cervical cancer. Who is eligible? All women and people with a cervix are eligible for a cervical cancer screening. This includes Trans men and non-binary people who are assigned female at birth and registered with their GP as female. Screenings will occur at regular intervals between the ages of 25 and 64. If you're 25 to 49, invites to screenings will be every three years. For those aged 50 to 64, this will be every five years. What to expect A smear test should take around five minutes, and the whole appointment should take at most ten minutes. A female GP or nurse will carry out the test, but if you have any concerns, contact your GP practice or sexual health clinic ahead of your appointment, and they will work with you. The smear test may feel uncomfortable, but it should not be painful. If you experience pain during the exam, inform the GP or nurse attending you immediately. Many people put off booking or attending their smear test because they're not sure what to expect. Healthcare professionals conducting the exam will ensure you feel comfortable and safe and will be happy to talk you through the procedure. Talk to someone A smear test is a very personal procedure, which can be off-putting for some. You can talk to someone about the test if you feel embarrassed or worried. Sometimes it's easier to speak to someone you don't know. Your GP or nurse can talk you through what to expect, addressing any concerns or worries about the test. You may want to contact an organisation that provides information and support about having cervical screening if you're unable to speak with your GP practice: Eve Appeal offers information and support for anyone affected by gynaecological cancers. It also provides information about cervical screening for transgender, non-binary and intersex people. Call their helpline on 0808 802 0019. Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust (Jo's Trust) offers information and support for anyone affected by cervical cancer or abnormal cervical cell changes. Call their helpline on 0808 802 8000. After the exam Your GP practice or sexual health clinic will send your cell sample to a lab after the test. Ask the nurse or doctor when you will get your test results. Often, the most challenging part of cervical screening is waiting for results. It is natural to worry about this. Usually, you will get a letter with the results within two to four weeks. If you are still waiting to hear something by six weeks, tell your GP so they can check for you. After the exam, you may experience light vaginal bleeding for a day. If it continues longer than this or is particularly heavy, contact your GP or sexual health clinic immediately. Where can I get a smear test? Your GP practice can offer you an appointment for your smear test. You will be automatically invited to a test up to six months before you turn 25 or when your next one is due. However, the impact of the pandemic may mean that you are overdue an appointment or have yet to receive an invite. It's always worthwhile checking in with your GP. You can also attend a sexual health clinic to have your smear test done if your GP practice cannot offer you an appointment.

The British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) have announced junior doctors and dental trainees will take strike action from 7am on Wednesday 20 December 2023 until 7am on Saturday 23 December 2023. This is part of an ongoing dispute between junior doctors and government. Junior doctors make up around half of all doctors in the NHS. Junior doctors are qualified doctors who have anywhere from up to eight years’ experience working as a hospital doctor, depending on their specialty, or up to three years in general practice. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has advised you should attend your appointment as planned. You will be contacted if your appointment needs to be rescheduled because of strike action. GP practices will continue to be open during the junior doctors strike. Please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise. The NHS is also asking the public to play their part by taking simple steps during strike action to look after themselves, loved ones and checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours. Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and serious life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. Anyone who needs urgent care should use NHS111 online or call NHS 111 to be assessed and directed to the right care for them. When someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, you should seek emergency care in the normal way, by calling 999 or attending A&E. For more information, especially as the strikes are taking place over the holiday period with people travelling, please click here to access NHS England's Q&A. Further strikes in January 2024: Further strikes are to take place from 7am on Wednesday 3 January 2024 until 7am on Tuesday 9 January 2024.

We would like to say a big thank you to all the locals and organisations that have given us feedback and supported our work throughout 2023. We wish you a safe and peaceful Christmas holiday. The office will be closed on Friday 22nd December and reopening at 9am on Tuesday 2nd January. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Christmas and New Year local pharmacy opening hours, click here. For information, if you need urgent dental care, click here. For mental health advice, information, and local support, click here. For advice on staying well this winter, click here. For healthcare information in different languages, click here.

It's that time of the year to make sure your medicine cabinets are stocked up, and repeat prescriptions are ordered in time for the Christmas holidays. Reading pharmacy opening times are below. Please phone your chosen pharmacy before visiting to ensure they are open and have the medication you need. Just a reminder... Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for various minor illnesses. They also work with other healthcare professionals to get you the best possible care in a way that works for you and the NHS. The pharmacist will let you know if you need to visit a doctor or other healthcare service, such as a hospital. What services do pharmacies provide? Pharmacists train for five years in the use of medicines. They are also trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice. They can answer your questions on prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Pharmacies provide the following services: ·        dispensing of NHS prescriptions ·        access to the repeat prescription service ·        an emergency supply of medicine, subject to the decision of the pharmacist ·        non-prescription medicines like paracetamol ·        disposal of unwanted or out-of-date medicines Can a pharmacist prescribe medication? Pharmacists can offer advice and over-the-counter medication to help with a range of common conditions and minor injuries, including: ·        common ailments such as coughs, colds and the flu ·        aches, pains and skin rashes Your pharmacist can help manage repeat prescriptions and help with any questions you might have about the medication the doctor has prescribed you. You can also only buy certain products classified as 'pharmacy medicines' from a pharmacist. These medicines, called 'pharmacy-only medicines', aren't usually displayed on open shelves.

Dentistry continues to be an ongoing national crisis, and Reading is no exception. We continue to see residents struggling to register and/or find appointments with local NHS dentists. We are in regular contact with NHS England - South East Dental to ensure you have the latest information on local dentistry. Currently there are NHS dental practices across Berkshire offering additional NHS appointments (also known as the extra hours scheme) for anyone who needs urgent or emergency dental care only. This includes Reading residents. Some of these dental surgeries are outside of Reading but you can still attend these. For urgent and emergency dental treatment, we recommend you call the dental practices below as soon as they open each morning to make an appointment. Appointments get filled quickly. Please also mention Healthwatch Reading when speaking to the dental practice about your urgent dental problem or emergency. Please note these sessions are not for routine dental care unless you are clinically vulnerable (including but not the full list; cardiac patients, cancer patients, immuno suppressed), Looked After Children or a Care Home resident. As of 8th December 2023, you can call the following dental practices and make an appointment if you are a Reading resident needing urgent or emergency dental care, or if you are clinically vulnerable. Please mention Healthwatch Reading: Bespoke Dental Care/Gentle Dental Care, 6 Chapel Hill, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire, RG31 5DG, 0118 945 2900 / 0118 945 5555 Nightingale Cottage Dental Practice, 7 York Way, Sandhurst, Westwood Dental Practice, 29 London Road, Slough SL3 7RP, 01753 522091 Smile Dental Centre, 24 High Street, Slough, SL1 1EQ, 01753 523410 Moonlight Dental Surgery, Wentworth Avenue, Slough, SL2 2DG, 01753 526301 SC Dental Studio, 281 Farnham Road, Slough, SL2 1JF, 01753 550888 Cippenham Dental Practice, 424 Bath Road, Cippenham, SL1 6JA, 01753 577017 You can find more information and advice on how to access dental care in Reading here. We will continue to update this page as and when more dental practices come on board and/or have NHS spaces, and when more appointments become available across Reading. Do let us know if any local dental practices are taking on new NHS patients too and we can update this page - thank you. We continue to welcome your views and experiences on dental services in Reading which will be used anonymously to inform local NHS dental leaders of the dental crisis in Reading. Your feedback can be submitted here.

Everyone is welcome to join us, Healthwatch Wokingham Borough and Healthwatch West Berkshire at our online event - RSVP to reserve your place... For more information about this project, click here. To book your free place at our online event via Healthwatch West Berkshire, click here. Call: 0118 214 5579 Email: contact@healthwatchreading.co.uk

Three Healthwatch (Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire) have joined forces after hearing locally, across different communities, that people registered with local doctors are not aware of the new ways doctor surgeries are working. The Healthwatch project will focus on understanding what local people know about doctor surgery services, where there are information gaps and how communication can improve to inform local people about services available. Click here to access the online survey if you are a Reading local. With the anonymous information gathered, Healthwatch wants to be able to support doctor surgeries to improve their communication with their patients to reduce the number of complaints received about access to services. Healthwatch wants to also increase awareness of other services available to help locals including self-help. For example, getting more people to use the NHS App, which in turn can also help reduce phone wait times. As part of the project, Healthwatch Reading is asking people from all communities to join focus groups across Reading in-person and online to talk about experiences and views on local doctor surgeries. If you’d like more information or want to join the conversation in person or online, we’d love to hear from you: Email: info@healthwatchreading.co.uk Call: 0118 214 5579

Here at Healthwatch Reading, we believe that health and social care providers can best improve services by listening to people's experiences. We believe that everyone needs to be included in the conversation, especially those whose voices aren’t being listened to. We are jointly hosting an online community event with Healthwatch Wokingham where locals can share their views and experiences about their local GP surgery, and learn about other services available to them. We believe that comparing lots of different experiences helps us to identify patterns and learn what is and isn't working. All feedback will be gathered anonymously and will help form a report we are producing which will be shared with the NHS and the teams that commission services across Berkshire, to help improve services for everyone. You can sign up here to join the online event. More details on this project can be found here. If you have any questions: Email: enquiries@healthwatchwokingham.co.uk Call: 0118 418 1418