With just two weeks until online bookings for COVID and flu vaccines close, the NHS is urging anyone still eligible for these vaccines to book an appointment and get potentially lifesaving protection ahead of Christmas. The NHS online booking system, NHS App and 119 phone service will be closed for flu bookings and COVID vaccine bookings from 15 December, making 14 December the last day to make a booking. For more information and tips on winter health, and to book your vaccinations online before 14th December, click here. There are still hundreds of thousands of appointments available each week across England offering extra protection to those eligible who have not yet come forward. This season saw the fastest-ever start to the NHS flu vaccine rollout on record and more people than ever before – over 4.5 million people – have received their flu and COVID vaccines in the same appointment, for extra convenience. Vaccination is the best way for people to ensure they and their families are protected against flu and COVID this Christmas when the viruses spread more easily as people spend more time indoors. It takes about two weeks following vaccination to build up the maximum defences against the viruses, so it’s important to book in early. It is crucial to get this protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID before, as immunity fades over time and the viruses change each year. Steve Russell, national director for vaccinations and screening for NHS England, said: “It only takes a few moments to book your flu and COVID vaccines online – with thousands of eligible people having already taken up the offer this year and record numbers booking via the NHS app – but with just two weeks to go until online bookings close, we’re urging those who haven’t yet come forward to do so. “NHS staff continue to deliver vaccines at more sites than ever before, and we’ve seen record numbers choosing to have their flu and COVID vaccines at the same time, making it even easier for people. “We’re getting closer to the festive period when lots of people will be coming together with their families and friends, and getting vaccinated is the best way to keep you and those around you from getting seriously ill during the colder months – so, if you haven’t yet taken up the offer – now is the time to do so, nobody wants to be unwell at Christmas”. The 119 service, which provides booking support for those unable to access online services, will also close for bookings on 15 December, but it will continue answering queries until 22 December. It’s still possible to book your vaccinations after 15 December through local NHS vaccination services, like pharmacies or walk-in sites. However, there will be fewer COVID appointments, and you may need to travel further. People can continue booking the COVID vaccine through local services until 31 January. After that, COVID vaccinations will close, and people will be required to wait for a future seasonal campaign unless they develop a new health condition or start treatment that severely weakens the immune system, in which case a clinician may advise vaccination sooner. For those eligible for a free flu vaccine after 15 December, it will still be possible to book one by contacting their GP surgery or by finding a pharmacy that offers the NHS flu vaccination if you’re 18 or over. The free flu vaccine offer will then close after 31 March. However, getting it as soon as possible is encouraged to ensure protection over the colder months when flu is often in greater circulation. Parents should also ensure that eligible children are protected against the flu with the nasal spray vaccine, as they are at a higher risk of catching and spreading the virus. If caught, it can lead to serious problems like bronchitis and pneumonia. The flu vaccine, usually given as a nasal spray, will be offered in schools until 15 December. Parents can call to book an appointment for their two or three-year-old (aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2023) or their child with certain health conditions at their GP practice until 31 March. If you are experiencing cold and flu symptoms on the day of your vaccinations, it’s advisable to rebook your appointment for when you are well.

Three Healthwatch have joined forces after hearing locally, across different communities in Wokingham Borough, Reading and West Berkshire, that people registered with local GPs are not aware of the new ways GP practices are working. Therefore expectations do not match what they might experience when contacting their GP practice or seeking help. The Healthwatch project is focusing on exploring this further to understand what the public does know, where there are information gaps, and how communication can improve to address these. With the anonymous information that will be gathered, the aim is to be able to support GP surgeries to improve their communication with the public, thereby reducing the number of complaints received about access to GP-led services. Click here to complete the short survey if you are a Wokingham Borough resident. Healtwatch wants to also increase public awareness of other options available for help and self-help, including, for example, the NHS App, which will help reduce phone waiting times. As part of this project, Healthwatch Wokingham is asking local residents from all communities, to join focus groups across the borough in person or online to discuss their experiences and views on their local GP practices. If you’d like more information or want to join a focus group in person or online, Healthwatch would love to hear from you: Email: enquiries@healthwatchwokingham.co.uk Call: 0118 418 1418

Many people who provide unpaid care across Wokingham Borough and beyond are unaware of their rights so we've put together information about the help and support you are entitled to. If you provide unpaid care for a friend or family member (young or older) who, due to illness, disability, or another problem, cannot cope without support, you may be entitled to help. To help you access financial and practical support, we share three steps Carers UK suggests you can take, and links to local support. 1. Get a benefits check Get a full benefits check to see what financial support you may be entitled to. The Carer's Allowance is the primary carer's benefit, but this could also include tax credits, council tax discounts or help with fuel costs. You can get a personalised benefits check online. It will take about 20 minutes to complete. Go to the benefits calculator 2. Find out about practical support Caring for a loved one can be very physically and mentally demanding, so finding out from your local council what practical support is available is crucial. This support could include equipment to make caring easier or information about local support groups that can help. All carers are entitled to a carer's assessment from their local council. This could result in the carer, or the person they are caring for, being able to get additional help or support. Contact adult social services at Wokingham Borough council and ask for a carer's assessment to find out more. You can also access more information from the council's website pages for carers. 3. Connect with others Caring can be very isolating, but you can connect with people in similar situations in many different ways. You can find local support groups to attend in person or benefit from the wealth of online forums. To learn more about your rights, tailored to your situation, take a look at Upfront - Carers UK's online tool, or check out their online meetups if you fancy a cup of tea and chat. There are also information and support services available across Wokingham Borough through the Wokingham Carers Partnership in which you can: Get support to help you in your caring role Find local services and sources of help Look after your health and wellbeing Connect with other carers Understand your rights Age UK Berkshire (Lead contact for all carers age 19+) Website: Age UK Berkshire Contact number 0118 959 4242 Email carers@ageukberkshire.org.uk or info@ageukberkshire.org.uk Berkshire Youth (for carers age 18 and under) Website: Berkshire Youth Email admin@berkshireyouth.co.uk Contact Number 0118 909 0927 Promise Inclusion (Carers of children and adults with a learning disability and/ or autism) Website: Promise Inclusion Email: admin@promiseinclusion.org Contact No. 0300 7778539 Reach out to us if you'd like to share your experiences if being a carer (good or bad) or if you need further information and advice to help you get the support you need. Contact us here.

If you've missed any of our face-to-face events recently, you can now join the team as we jointly host an online event with Healthwatch Reading to gather views and experiences about local GP surgeries and services. Join the discussion and tell us what is good and what can be done better. You'll also learn more about the services available at your local GP surgery too. Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you online: Wednesday 29th November 7.00 pm-8.30 pm Sign-up to book your place, here. Details of our project in partnership with Healthwatch Reading and Healthwatch West Berkshire, can be found here.

Not sure what the NHS app is or how it works? This information is for you. By downloading the NHS app on your mobile phone or using it online through a laptop or computer (more details below), you can: Access your health record and test results (notes related to GP appointments, test results and letters). Order repeat prescriptions and nominate a pharmacy where you would like to collect your prescriptions. Book and manage GP appointments and referrals. View and manage your hospital and other healthcare appointments. View useful links your doctor or health professional has shared with you. Access other NHS services. View and manage care plans. Use NHS 111 online to answer questions and get instant advice or medical help near you. Get your NHS Covid Pass for travel. Book your COVID-19 Vaccine. Register your organ donation decision. Choose how the NHS uses your data. If you are a carer you can request to be linked to the records of the person you care for by directly contacting your GP surgery. How the app works The NHS app has been created for anyone aged 13 years old and over who is registered with a GP surgery, to access a range of NHS services. Patients under the age of 13 cannot use the NHS App at all. Under the age of 13, parents or guardians can request for their child’s record to be linked to their account. To access the NHS App, you will need to set up an NHS login and prove who you are. Your NHS App then securely connects to information from your GP surgery. If your device supports fingerprint detection or facial recognition, you can use it to log in to your NHS App each time, instead of using a password and security code. These app services are also available in a web browser using a laptop or computer too, by logging in through the NHS website, here. You can contact your doctor's surgery to learn more about the NHS app or you can download the app, learn more and get help with the app, by clicking here. Other information If you are worried someone is/or could be accessing your phone or might force you to show them your records, please contact your doctor's surgery to request that these are NOT shared via the app. ------------------ Please contact us to tell us what you think of the app (good or bad) and we'll use your feedback anonymously to inform NHS England, here. We are discussing the app and other services that are available to you at your local doctor's surgery, along with gathering feedback on your experiences at your doctor's surgery (good or bad) for our GP access project. You are welcome to join us at the next event we are jointly hosting with Healthwatch Reading, online. Click on the link in the image to register.

Women across Wokingham Borough will be able to get a first prescription of the contraceptive pill and repeat orders without having to see a GP, from 1st December. This will free up GP appointments across the borough and millions of GP appointments across the UK. If women opt for the combined oestrogen and progestogen pill, they will have a check-up with a pharmacist to record their blood pressure and weight. No checks are needed for the mini-pill (progestogen-only), which is also the case in other settings, NHS England said. How does the service work? Anyone needing the pill can access it through participating pharmacies without a referral from their GP, though they can be referred by their GP or sexual health clinic. The pharmacist will offer a confidential consultation and reach a shared decision with the person about their first supply of the pill, or the ongoing supply of their current oral contraception. The supply of oral contraception will be free. What checks will I need? For a combined oral hormonal contraception, a BMI and blood pressure measurement will need to be taken. These can be taken as part of the consultation within the pharmacy. A person accessing the service may also offer their own weight, height and blood pressure measurements. Any self-reported measurements will need to be recorded as such. Prescription figures for 2022/23 suggest there were almost 3 million prescriptions for the combined pill and more than 4 million for the mini pill. The rollout is part of the NHS and government’s primary care access recovery plan, announced by the head of the NHS and the Prime Minister in May, which committed to making it quicker and easier for millions of people to access healthcare on their high street. William Pett, Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Research at Healthwatch England, said: “Women across England will welcome the convenience of getting the contraceptive pill at a local pharmacy. Being able to see your GP in a timely manner remains the public’s top concern. If this initiative is effectively communicated and delivered, it will make a real difference to patients and relieve the pressure on hard-pressed services. “There could be potential problems, such as pharmacists not being able to see enough of people’s GP records or the ability of different communities and areas to access the new service. However, if evaluated well, the NHS will be able to ensure that this promising new service really works for patients.” At present, those wanting access to the pill still have to make an appointment with your GP until the new service starts in December.

Organisations (including Healthwatch) and community groups from Wokingham Borough are seeking the views of local residents across all communities, on the future of the area. A community steering group has been formed to create a long-term vision for the borough. The vision will set out the most important things that Wokingham Borough Council need to do to ensure a great quality of life for everybody in the community. The topics (these are not confirmed priorities for the final plan) the steering group would like locals to comment on are: · Health and well-being · Environment and sustainability · Opportunity, equality and inclusion · Community engagement, empowerment and action · Engaging with young people · Engaging with businesses For all the details of the future vision plan and to complete the short questionnaire, please click here. If you have any questions or want to share your views directly with the community vision steering group, you can email: cem@wokingham.gov.uk

Dr Amit Sharma, GP Partner, Brookside Group Practice, Wokingham talks about how the practice has improved services for all its patients and how you can also take charge of your care. Read more about our project in partnership with Healthwatch Reading and Healthwatch West Berkshire, focusing on improving GP services for everyone, here.

NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) is looking to redesign its non-emergency patient transport services. The Board want to hear from Wokingham Borough residents, carers or family members of those who use the service, to inform the redesign. What is non-emergency patient transport? Non-emergency patient transport services provide free transport services for people who need to travel to or from a hospital or a medical appointment but are unable to travel without specialist support. For example, for people with severe mobility difficulties or who need extra support during a journey. How to share your feedback? Online: Click the link below to complete the online survey - https://yourvoicebob-icb.uk.engagementhq.com/non-emergency-patient-transport-services-in-bob/survey_tools/nepts-survey Hardcopy of the survey: Please contact engagement.bobics@nhs.net for a print copy of the survey or if you require the survey in a different language. Post: You can also share your views by writing to: Freepost BOB INTEGRATED CARE BOARD (When using this address, please ensure you write in capital letters)

Top tips to help you stay well this winter and get the care you need. Winter conditions present an increased risk to our health, especially if you are older or have a long-term health condition such as heart or kidney disease, asthma or diabetes. Being cold can raise the risk of increased blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. The cold, damp weather can aggravate existing health problems, making you more vulnerable to respiratory winter illnesses. But there are things you can do to stay well. Top tips to stay well from the NHS · Make sure you get your COVID-19 booster and flu vaccination if you are eligible. · Keep warm by wrapping up, wearing lots of layers of thin clothes. · Stay active by moving around indoors, avoid sitting for more than one hour. Keeping active can also support your mental health. · Keep the heat in by drawing your curtains at dusk and keeping doors closed to block draughts. Try and heat rooms you regularly use to at least 18°C and keep your windows closed at night. Make sure you’re getting the help you’re entitled to with heating costs. · Use a hot water bottle or an electric blanket to keep warm in bed – but don’t use both at the same time. · Have at least one hot meal a day. Eating regular meals and drinking hot beverages can help you keep warm. · Look after your mental health by speaking to someone – a friend, family member or healthcare professional, like your doctor - if you are feeling down. Check out the NHS website for support on where to get urgent mental health support. · Make sure you have the right medicines at home in case you get poorly. Ask your pharmacist if you are unsure. · Wash your hands with soap and water: o When you get home or into work; o After you blow your nose, sneeze or cough; and o Before you eat. · If you get ill, rest and keep warm, drink lots of liquids, have at least one hot meal each day and take the tablets you have been recommended by a healthcare professional. If you get ill · If you think you need medical help right now, call 111 by phone or use NHS 111 online. · If it is a real emergency and life-threatening, then you can call 999. · If it’s less urgent contact your doctor or pharmacist. Look out for others · Keep in touch with your friends, neighbours and family and ask if they need any practical help, or if they’re feeling under the weather. · Make sure they’re stocked up with enough food supplies for a few days, in case they can’t go out. · If they do need to go out in the cold, encourage them to wear shoes with a good grip and a scarf around the mouth to protect them from the cold air, and to reduce their risk of chest infections. · Make sure they get any prescription medicines before the holiday period starts and if bad weather is forecast. · If you're concerned about someone's health or safety, call NHS 111 for health advice, or 999 in an emerency.

This week the NHS opened up bookings for anyone eligible for the Covid vaccine (including carers, over 65’s, pregnant women). You can now book your vaccine via the NHS website, NHS app or by calling 119 (free of charge). GP practices and other local NHS services will also be contacting people to offer both flu and Covid vaccines, and people can book the flu vaccine by searching online for a local pharmacy. Covid vaccinations for those aged under 18 years will begin later in the year – the NHS will let eligible families know when this offer opens. The Autumn Covid and Flu vaccine programmes have been brought forward on the advice of scientists following the emergence of a new Covid variant (BA.2.86), which has a high number of mutations. On 11 September, care home residents and people who are housebound began receiving their Covid and flu vaccinations with visits from their local NHS team. To find out more, please visit Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) website.

Three Healthwatch have joined forces after hearing locally, across different communities in Wokingham Borough, Reading and West Berkshire, that people registered with local GPs are not aware of the new ways GP practices are working. Therefore their expectations do not always match what they experience when contacting their GP practice or when seeking help. The Healthwatch project is exploring this to further understand what the public does know, where there are information gaps, and how communication can improve to address these. With the anonymous information that will be gathered, the aim is to be able to support GP surgeries to improve their communication with the public, thereby reducing the number of complaints received about access to GP-led services. Healtwatch wants to also increase public awareness of other options available for getting help and self-help, including, for example, the NHS App, which will help reduce phone waiting times. As part of this project, Healthwatch Wokingham is asking local residents from all communities, to join focus groups across the borough to discuss their experiences and views on accessing GP services. Everyone is welcome to share their views at any of these focus groups: Tuesday 5th Dec: 2.30pm-6.30pm Arborfield Hall, Eversley Road, Arborfield Cross, RG2 9PQ. Come and join the Healthwatch discussion about your GP surgery. Tuesday 12th December: 10.00am-12.00am The team will be joining Promise Inclusion at The Bradbury Centre, Rose Street, Wokingham, RG40 1XS. Friday 15th December: 12.00pm-2.30pm The team will be joining SHARE Wokingham at Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham, RG40 1UU. If you’d like more information or want to join a focus group in person or online, Healthwatch would love to hear from you: Email: enquiries@healthwatchwokingham.co.uk Call: 0118 418 1418