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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 in the borough and Reading 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 did no

The Big Conversation is your chance to share your views on the future of adult social care. Adult social care supports adults with care and support needs. This includes old people, disabled people and people with long term health conditions. Most of us will need care at some point in our lives or have a loved one who will. We pay for social care through our taxes. So care matters to all of us. The Big Conversation, led by Baroness Louise Casey, is part of the work being un

Have you experienced racism, discrimination, prejudice or unequal treatment in health and social care settings? If so, we want to hear from you. Click here to share your experience anonymously. Health and social care services experience Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and fairness when accessing health and social care services. Yet for many people, this is not always the reality. People from Black, Asian and other diverse communities, as well as Jewish

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 around 1 in 3 people across the borough and Reading combined do not use the NHS App. People told us there are several reasons for this, including preferring traditional ways to access healthcare, lacking confidence with technology, and not having access to a suitable dev

Have you, or someone you care for, been discharged from hospital recently? We want to know about your experiences. Leaving hospital should be a safe and well-supported step towards recovery. But for some people, the process can be confusing, delayed or leave them without the support they need. We are working with Healthwatch England to understand people’s experiences of leaving hospital, also known as hospital discharge. You or someone you care for may have experienced delays

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 953 residents across Wokingham Borough. In total, we received 1,436 responses, including 483 from Reading. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be running a campaign to share more ins

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

Every improvement in local health and social care starts with someone sharing their experience. Whether it's telling us what is working well, raising concerns about access to services or suggesting ways care could be improved, local people's voices play a key role in shaping the services everyone relies on. At Healthwatch Wokingham Borough, we make sure every voice is heard. We are delighted to publish our Annual Report 2025/26: Speaking up for better care, which highlights t

This is a bumper edition newsletter packed with updates on our latest projects, local health news, and helpful information and advice. Click below to download our Feb/March newsletter in PDF format Join our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter by clicking on the link below. https://www.healthwatchwokingham.co.uk/?utm_campaign=1840cf8c-233d-4448-8570-bd0e8841176e&utm_source=so&utm_medium=lp#subscribe Other recent newsletter editions January 2026 Roundup: Click below

With the Easter Bank Holiday approaching, make sure you’re prepared! It’s important to order any repeat medications in advance as pharmacies are extra busy around Bank Holidays and opening hours may be different. The pharmacies listed below are expected to be open during the Easter holidays. While details are correct at the time of publishing, opening times may change, so it’s best to contact the pharmacy before visiting to confirm availability and stock. You can also downlo

Wokingham Borough Council wants to hear from you as they need your help to shape a strategy to make physical activity more accessible for everyone across the borough. Whether you love walking or swimming, enjoy time in the garden or are training for a marathon, the council would like to understand: • What do you do to stay active • Where you are active • What matters to you • Any barriers you face • What would help you be more active To find out more and to fill out the surve

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 today published a report 'The Future of Patient Voice: Learning from the Healthwatch Model' (commissioned in part by Healthwatch England but developed independently by think tank The King’s Fund). The

Updates on 24th March: For the latest developments of the outbreak and for advice: Meningitis outbreak: what you need to know – UK Health Security Agency You may have seen reports of a meningitis outbreak in Kent, where two young people have sadly died and 13 people became ill over just three days. Most affected are sixth-form and university students. While outbreaks like this are rare, meningitis can spread quickly and become serious very fast, especially in shared spaces l

We are delighted to share a series of multilingual videos created by Alliance and Cohesion for Racial Equality ( ACRE ) in Reading, to help people access clear and trustworthy information about important vaccines. The videos cover the MMR vaccine (for both adults and children), flu, RSV and COVID-19 and are available below in Arabic, Nepali and Urdu to help reach more communities. About the video project Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB

It's so important that you feel supported as a new parent. Read the article below to find out where you can go to get the help you need. Your mental health is important, both for your wellbeing and your child’s. It’s important that you feel supported throughout your journey of becoming a parent and have a safe space to talk about how you are feeling. Take a look at the information below to find out where you can go to get the support you and your family need. Are mental heal

From the end of March, people will start to notice some changes to the NHS App. According to NHS Digital, the app will begin to look different as updates are rolled out over the coming weeks. For some people, the update will happen automatically and others may see a message asking them to update the NHS App. What is changing? Several improvements have been made to make the NHS app easier to use: A new “App help” button at the top of each screen will take users directly to sup

On 26 February 2026, the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation published an interim report, sharing early findings and recommendations while the full investigation continues. Background The investigation was launched in June 2025 by Health Secretary Wes Streeting to review NHS maternity services in England. Led by Baroness Valerie Amos, its goal is to identify the “systemic causes of unacceptable care affecting women, babies, and families.” The investigati

What is the six-week postnatal check up for new mothers and why it’s important that you attend it? In this advice piece, we cover all the basic questions you may have about it. In 2020, NHS England launched a 6-week mental health check for new mothers to ensure they feel well and have the support they need if they are struggling with their mental health. What is the six-week postnatal check? GPs must offer a six-week postnatal check to all new mothers and birthing p

At Healthwatch, we want to make sure every voice in our community is heard, especially those who are often underrepresented. We gathered feedback from 115 women from the South Asian community across the borough to learn more about their experiences with healthcare services. We chose to focus on South Asian women because they face some of the most significant health inequalities in the borough: Low screening rates : Cervical screening uptake among Pakistani and Bangladeshi wom

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Europe has confirmed that the UK has officially lost its measles-free (or “measles elimination”) status, based on 2024 data. It also reflects a steady decline in childhood vaccination rates over the past decade. What’s happening? Measles vaccination levels in the UK are well below what’s needed to stop the virus spreading. Only 84% of five-year-olds have received both recommended doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. To pr