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Latest research from our national body, Healthwatch England has found that 1 in 5 men are now using platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube - and almost 1 in 10 are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots for information on staying healthy. Men in England often face worse health outcomes than women, including higher rates of heart disease, cancer, and suicide—one of the leading causes of death for men under 50. Our national body, Healthwatch England’s research, r

Fraudsters are impersonating the NHS (claiming to be your GP surgery receptionist/care navigator or a doctor) and targeting patients with phone calls claiming that they must update their GP records or risk being removed from their GP surgery list. These calls are fake and are designed to steal personal information. How the scam works People receive automated calls warning that their GP records are out of date and urging immediate action. The fraudsters may try to: Pressure y

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has stated: Whilst we are putting in place plans and contingencies to reduce the impact that this will have on the running of the hospital, some appointments may need to be changed. If your appointment is impacted by this, you will be contacted by the Trust to reschedule your appointment to another day. However, if you have not heard from us, you should come in as planned for your appointment. If you need urgent or emergency care on the da

At the end of October, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced that for the first time, menopause advice and questions will be included in free NHS health checks, helping millions of women. Routine NHS appointments will now help tackle one of the most overlooked women’s health issues — the menopause. This change will make sure that women going through perimenopause or menopause get clear information and support. It will also help more women spot the signs e

Welcome to our NHS App information page. This is your one-stop page for support and guidance. 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 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 still contact your GP practice or pharmacy by phone or in per

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

Improving health services and care for women across Wokingham Borough is a key focus in our workplan for this year. We're pleased to highlight a new service that supports this goal. T he LARC (Long Acting Reversible Contraception (such as coils and implants)) service is now more accessible to women in the borough. You can still book this service through your GP but a new Mid Hampshire service also offers additional access, giving women more choice where they are seen and mak

We are delighted to announce that Alice Kunjappy-Clifton, Healthwatch Wokingham Borough and Healthwatch Reading Lead, has been appointed to the NHS Race and Health Observatory (RHO) Stakeholder Engagement Advisory Group. This group brings together individuals from across the NHS and wider communities to support the Observatory’s mission to address race and health inequalities. The advisory group meets quarterly to help ensure the RHO’s work remains grounded in the lived expe

Latest Government data shows that whilst HIV diagnoses in England are continuing to decline, there is still concern about reaching certain populations. The data In 2024, new HIV diagnoses fell by about 4 %, from 3,169 in 2023 to 3,043 England has now met key global HIV targets for six years in a row:  • 95 % of people living with HIV have been diagnosed. • Of those diagnosed, 99 % are receiving treatment. • 98 % of those on treatment have a suppressed viral load (this means

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 November: 5 November - Sunflowers Coffee Morning, Rainbow Centre, 10am-11:30am 7 November - Food Share, Norreys Church, 12:30pm - 2:30pm 18 November - Food Share, Finchampstead Baptist Church, 9am-12pm 24 November - Food Share, Emmanuel Church, 3:30pm-16

There are big changes taking place within the NHS as part of the Government's 10-year plan to help improve healthcare for everyone in...

The Government’s NHS 10-year plan aims to improve healthcare access through technology and digital tools. By 2028, the NHS App is planned...

The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has urged pregnant women to avoid taking paracetamol, also known by the brand name Tylenol, due to an unproven link between the drug and autism. In response, the Department of Health and Social Care, The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Medicines Agency have published clear statements on the safety of paracetamol use in pregnancy. They

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 September: 16 September, Freshers Day - Bracknell and Wokingham College, 11am-1:30pm 24 September, Carers Information Day - Wokingham Community Hub, 10am-12pm October: 2 Octo ber, Mum's/Dad's Group, Rainbow, Winnersh, 10am-11:30am 8 October, Healthwatch pop

The Government’s new NHS Trust league tables for England have been published for the first time. Trusts will be ranked every 3 months....

Healthwatch Wokingham Borough asks you to sign a petition to ensure the Government reviews the decision to close all independent local...

What’s happening? Starting in January 2026, NHS England will offer the chickenpox vaccine free of charge as part of the routine childhood...

The NHS has announced its winter vaccination programme for flu, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), for children, pregnant...

The UK Government will carry out a national test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3:00pm. It is a system...

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Wokingham Borough Council as good in how well they are meeting its responsibilities to ensure...