Report by Reading Voice We helped the association hold a Zoom session on 14 March 2021. Summary Talks were given by Jessica Acquah, a biomedical scientist and Meradin Peachey, the director of public health for Berkshire West Participants asked questions about Covid-19 and the vaccine programme Participants discussed socioeconomic barriers to test, trace and isolate and overcoming misinformation about the disease and vaccination.

Report by Reading Voice We have published a joint response with four other local Healthwatch to the CQC's proposals on how it regulates services in the future. Summary Healthwatch Reading, Healthwatch West Berkshire, Healthwatch Wokingham Borough, Healthwatch Buckinghamshire and Healthwatch Oxfordshire sent this joint response to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 23 March 2021 We welcomed the CQC's intention to be a ‘a more dynamic, flexible and responsive regulator’. We welcomed CQC plans to achieve ‘a better understanding of people’s feedback and experiences of care’. We are unsure about a reduction of CQC inspection visits in person to services and call for evidence on how well 'desk-top' assessment works.

Report by Reading Voice We spoke with 43 asylum seekers or refugees placed in Reading by the Home Office as part of the government's pandemic response. Summary: Being moved from other parts of the UK to Reading had sometimes caused unsafe breaks in medication or ongoing treatment Their rights to free prescriptions and dental care on the NHS had been delayed in many cases due to bureaucracy Case studies highlight the experiences of Mohammed, Farzad and Nyadeng The full report contains responses from Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group, Reading Borough Council and Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Report by Reading Voice We joined up with Age UK Berkshire to hold a Zoom session with charity staff and the public on 18 February 2021. Key points Vaccinations are starting to protect elderly people Vaccine hesitancy is best addressed with a ‘talk, not tell’ approach Information is available in various formats for people with sensory impairments

Report by Reading Voice A review of reports by five local Healthwatch has shown consisent themes affecting health inequalities. Summary This review was undertaken on behalf of the local Healthwatch in Reading, Wokingham, West Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire and submitted to the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System The review covered 21 reports published by the five local Healthwatch, 2018-20 Reports included views of 1200+ people: those experiencing homelessness, mental health needs and learning disabilities; people seeking asylum; & people who were pregnant, LGBT+, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, military veterans or boaters. The two consistent themes were the need to improve communication and access. We have called for patient experience to be systematically and transparently measured to drive improvements.

Report by Reading Voice This report was presented to the Reading Health and Wellbeing Board on 22 January 2021. Summary We surveyed 153 people about their use of the NHS in the first national lockdown 44% of respondents hadn’t contacted the NHS because they didn't want to bother busy staff, thought their problem could wait or feared they would catch Covid The most used services were GPs (75%), pharmacies (51%) or outpatients (22%) 36% said better communication or information would've improved their experience 55 people left messages of praise for NHS staff and other key workers

Report by Reading Voice We have joined forces with four other local Healthwatch to respond to proposals. Summary Healthwatch Reading, Healthwatch West Berkshire, Healthwatch Wokingham Borough, Healthwatch Buckinghamshire and Healthwatch Oxfordshire sent this joint response to NHS England on 7 January 2021 NHSE sought views on proposals in: Integrating care Next steps to building strong and effective integrated care systems across England The five local Healthwatch do not support NHSE's preferred option for integrated care systems to take over the statutory role of clinical commissioning groups The five Healthwatch prefer the option of an ICS statutory committee The five Healthwatch call for local Healthwatch to have a statutory ICS board seat

Report by Reading voice Healthwatch Reading visited the surgery on 7 February and 11 February 2020 (before the outbreak of Covid-19). Summary 96% of people said the clinical care they got from doctors and nurses was 'good' or 'excellent' 87% of people said help from receptionists was ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ 9% of people had booked that day’s appointment online

Report by Reading Voice We worked with Reading's race equality body, ACRE, to hold a Zoom session on 22 February 2021 between local people and health professionals. Key points 45 local people attended the session The three main speakers answering questions were: - Kim Frewin, lead nurse for Reading Central vaccination hub & Pembroke Surgery - Ida Osei, a clinical pharmacist at Tilehurst Surgery - Mandeep Kaur Bains, chief executive of Healthwatch Reading People asked questions about vaccine safety, differences between vaccines, timing of the two doses, appointments and more