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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

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has launched its refreshed strategy to improve patient care over the next five years. 2,400 patients, community members, NHS trust staff, volunteers and partners have contributed to the refresh. The strategy focuses on the Trust, embracing the NHS’s 10-Year Health Plan to lead transformation. The trust says that through artificial intelligence and data, genomics, robotics and advanced diagnostics, it will harness the power of technology to

The NHS has published new national guidance to improve how eating disorders are identified and treated in children and young people. As part of this, NHS staff will train teachers, school nurses, and GPs to spot early warning signs and refer young people for help sooner. The guidance moves away from relying on BMI alone and instead focuses on behaviour changes, mental health and family concerns. What this means Eating disorders amongst children and young people have risen rap

Our first newsletter of 2026 is packed with updates on our latest projects, local health news, and helpful information and advice. Click below to download our January 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 December 2026 Roundup: Click below to do

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has announced the launch of its CAMHS Young People Group, with the first meeting taking place online, on Wednesday 25th February. The trust says the group will have the chance to give honest feedback and work alongside the CAMHS team to help shape care. Meeting details When? Wednesday 25 February What time? 6:00 – 7:30pm Where? Online (Microsoft Teams) Anyone aged 13–25 who has accessed a CAMHS service in Berkshire is welcome to join.

Jess’s Rule is a new patient safety initiative being displayed in every GP surgery in England from this week onwards. It is designed to help doctors spot serious illnesses earlier by encouraging them to take a "fresh eyes" approach when symptoms continue. How it works Strike One:  A patient visits their GP with symptoms. Strike Two:  The patient returns because the symptoms continue or worsen. Strike Three:  The patient attends again and there is still no clear diagnosis. At

Healthcare charity Sue Ryder has been awarded a major new NHS contract to grow its compassionate palliative and end-of-life care services across Wokingham Borough, Reading, Newbury and South Oxfordshire.    Starting in January 2026, the new services will help more local people living with life-limiting conditions access palliative and end-of-life care to manage their symptoms, provide comfort, and improve their quality of life, often in their own home.  These services include

Our final newsletter of 2025 is packed with updates on our latest projects, local health news, and helpful information and advice. Click below to download our November 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 November 2025 Roundup: Click below to

The NHS is launching a new online hospital service, called NHS Online, designed to make it quicker and easier for people to access specialist care without always needing to visit a hospital in person. It will begin seeing its first patients next year, aiming to modernise healthcare by using digital technology, while still keeping face-to-face appointments available for those who need or prefer them. What will NHS Online do? Patients will be able to: Be referred by their GP to

Below is a list of places where you can meet our team to discuss your views and experiences of local health and social care with them in person. We'll also be asking for your feedback on the NHS app. Where to meet the team in January 8 January - Link Visiting Scheme, All Saints Church, 10am-12:30pm 8 January - Cosy Coffee Morning, Woodley Library, 10am-11:30pm 15 January - Cosy Coffee Morning, Woodley Library, 10am-11:30pm 22 January - Cosy Coffee Morning, Wokingham Library,

As the Christmas holidays approach, there are temporary changes to our opening hours. Our phone lines close at 3pm on Thursday 18th December and reopen at 10am on Tuesday 6th January, 2026. Our office closes  at 5pm on Monday 22 December and reopen at 9am on Monday 5 th  January, 2026 During this time, you can still get in touch with us by emailing: enquiries@healthwatchwokingham.co.uk   or by using our online form  to share your experiences over the holiday period. From ph

The festive season can mean reduced service hours and extra pressure on health services. Our guide has everything you need to know, from local pharmacy opening times to urgent dental care and mental health support, to help you and your loved ones stay well over the holidays. Should you have a medical emergency during the festive season, please call 999.   NHS 111 Contact NHS 111 for all non-urgent medical help or advice, including mental health crisis support.    NHS 111 op

With the Christmas holidays just around the corner, we'd like to remind everyone to stock up their medicine cabinets and ensure repeat prescriptions are ordered in time for the holidays. Many local pharmacies will be closed or operating reduced hours throughout the Christmas period. However, there are still some pharmacies local to the borough you can visit if you want to speak to a pharmacist about any health concerns and minor illnesses. These include: earache (aged 1 to 1

Resident doctors (previously known as junior doctors) are striking from Wednesday 17 December 2025 to Monday 22 December 2025, across England. This impacts Wokingham Borough. Whilst Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is putting plans in place to reduce the impact that this will have on the running of Royal Berkshire Hospital and other local services, some appointments may need to be changed. If your appointment is impacted by this, you will be contacted by the Trust to resc

NHS England is carrying out a national LGBT+ health evidence review, commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The review, led by Dr Michael Brady, launched in July 2025 and will conclude in January 2026, with a final report and recommendations to help address health inequalities experienced by LGBT+ people. Its aims include understanding barriers to accessing healthcare, exploring experiences of care, identifying areas of poorer health outcomes, and

As of 1 December 2025, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Founation Trust has temporarily stopped accepting new referrals to its adult ADHD service due to a significant rise in demand. The step has also been taken by other NHS trusts facing similar pressures across England. This decision aims to protect patient safety and stabilise the service amid unprecedented demand. The service now receives more monthly referrals than it was originally commissioned to assess in a year, leading to:

Our November newsletter is packed with updates on our latest projects, local health news, and helpful information and advice. Click below to download our November 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 October 2025 Roundup: Click below to downlo

Below is a list of places where you can meet our team to discuss your views and experiences of local health and social care with them in person. We'll also be asking for your feedback on the NHS app. Where to meet the team in December: 8 December - Food Share, Shinfield Green Community Centre, 12:30-1:30pm Drop by and say hello to the team, we'd love to see you! * This page will be regularly updated with new events we’re attending throughout December. We also have other enga

The Government has responded to the petition to save Healthwatch, after plans were announced earlier this year to close down Healthwatch England and the local Healthwatch network as part of the NHS 10-Year Health Plan. The petition, which is open until  7 February 2026, calls on the Government to: • Revisit its decision to abolish local independent services that speak up for the public • Consult with the public to codesign a service which meets their needs and supports the