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October 2025 Roundup
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
Oct 30, 2025


Women’s health: better access, more informed choice across the borough
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
Oct 22, 2025


Healthwatch Lead joins NHS Race and Health Observatory Advisory Group
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
Oct 21, 2025


HIV diagnoses are falling in England, but concerns remain
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
Oct 20, 2025


Out and about with the team in November
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
Oct 13, 2025


The creation of the Thames Valley Integrated Care Board
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...
Oct 7, 2025


Survey now open: share your views on the NHS App
The Government’s NHS 10-year plan aims to improve healthcare access through technology and digital tools. By 2028, the NHS App is planned...
Sep 29, 2025


Taking paracetamol during pregnancy remains safe, says Government
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
Sep 28, 2025


Sept & Oct: Out and about with the team
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
Sep 24, 2025


NHS Trust league tables published
The Government’s new NHS Trust league tables for England have been published for the first time. Trusts will be ranked every 3 months....
Sep 15, 2025


Sign the petition to save Healthwatch from closure
Healthwatch Wokingham Borough asks you to sign a petition to ensure the Government reviews the decision to close all independent local...
Sep 7, 2025


Free Chickenpox vaccination offered to children in England from January 2026
What’s happening? Starting in January 2026, NHS England will offer the chickenpox vaccine free of charge as part of the routine childhood...
Sep 3, 2025


Winter vaccination rollout 2025
The NHS has announced its winter vaccination programme for flu, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), for children, pregnant...
Aug 31, 2025


UK Emergency Alerts Test - Sunday 7 September at 3pm.
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...
Aug 25, 2025


CQC rates Wokingham Borough Council’s adult social care provision as good
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Wokingham Borough Council as good in how well they are meeting its responsibilities to ensure...
Aug 20, 2025


South Central Ambulance Service: "Plan ahead to avoid running out of medication."
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS), which runs the NHS 111 service in the region, is urging people who take...
Aug 14, 2025


Pregnant women can now book to see a midwife without seeing a GP
Pregnant women can now book to see a midwife without visiting a GP by completing a simple online form. You can choose which NHS trust...
Aug 12, 2025


Government publishes NHS 10-year health plan for England
We look at what this means for you and Healthwatch The government has now published a 10-Year NHS Health Plan for England ‘Fit for the...
Jul 31, 2025


An open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
131 local Healthwatch services across England, including Healthwatch Wokingham Borough, have signed a powerful open letter to the...
Jul 25, 2025


Positive responses to our report on young women’s sexual health and wellbeing
We’re delighted to share that our recent report on young women’s experiences with sexual health services and wellbeing has received...
Jul 22, 2025
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