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The NHS has announced a new set of 8 minimum standards for patient experience aimed at improving how patients access and interact with planned healthcare services. The changes are designed to reduce uncertainty, improve communication, and make the NHS easier to navigate. NHS Chief Executive Sir Jim Mackey described the current experience for many patients as "like walking through treacle" and said the new standards will help deliver a more transparent and patient-centred serv

See the Difference You've Made Across West Berkshire Every conversation matters, every survey completed, every experience shared and every story told has helped improve health and care services across West Berkshire. Our new 2025/26 Annual Report showcases how local people have influenced decision-makers, highlighted inequalities and helped shape better services for everyone. Read our full report to discover: ✓ The real stories behind the statistics ✓ The changes we've helped

What Would You Like to See? Health and care organisations across West Berkshire are coming together to explore a new way of working that puts communities at the heart of local health and wellbeing support. Representatives from the NHS, the Integrated Care Board (ICB), West Berkshire Council, voluntary organisations, community groups and other local partners are beginning conversations about how a neighbourhood health approach could work in practice across our communities. The

Healthwatch West Berkshire Supports the Lions "Message in a Bottle" Scheme When an emergency happens, every second counts. Emergency responders often need quick access to important information about a person's health, medications, allergies and emergency contacts. But what if the person is unable to communicate? That's where the Lions Message in a Bottle scheme can help. The scheme is simple, free, and could make a significant difference in an emergency. A small plastic bottl

Thousands of young people across England will be offered a free Meningitis B (MenB) vaccination this summer as part of a new one-off NHS programme designed to help protect students before they start university or residential further education. The programme follows concerns about a rise in MenB cases, including a significant outbreak in Kent earlier this year which became the largest and fastest-growing MenB outbreak ever recorded in the UK. Who is eligible? The vaccination p

Could Improve Rights for Unpaid Carers and Parents of Seriously Ill Children The Government has launched a new consultation that could lead to stronger workplace rights and support for unpaid carers and parents caring for seriously ill children. Make Work Pay Across the UK, millions of people balance paid work alongside caring responsibilities for a family member, friend, partner or child. While caring can be rewarding, it can also be physically, emotionally and financially

Thousands of men with prostate cancer in England are set to benefit from a new, highly targeted form of radiotherapy that can significantly reduce treatment time while maintaining effective cancer care. NHS England has announced that eligible men with early-stage, localised prostate cancer will now be offered stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), a pioneering treatment that delivers high-dose radiotherapy directly to tumours with exceptional precision. Prostate cancer is

Loneliness can affect people of all ages and backgrounds, whether they live alone, have recently experienced a change in circumstances, or simply want more opportunities to socialise. A local group called the Friendship Club offers a chance for people to meet others in a relaxed and welcoming setting. The group is aimed at people living on their own or anyone who would like some company and companionship. Members meet at various local venues for brunch, lunch and dinner, with

What West Berkshire Residents Need to Know The weather forecast for Wednesday and Thursday has become increasingly serious, with parts of England now under a rare Red Heat Health Alert and temperatures expected to reach the high 30s, with some forecasts suggesting parts of the UK could approach 40°C. Health experts are warning that this level of heat can affect everyone, not just those who are traditionally considered vulnerable. For West Berkshire, this means residents shoul

As temperatures rise, many people are tempted to cool off by swimming or paddling in local rivers such as the River Kennet. While rivers can be an attractive place to enjoy the outdoors, it is important to be aware that natural waterways can contain harmful bacteria and other contaminants that may pose a risk to health. Bacteria can enter rivers from a variety of sources, including animal waste from livestock and wildlife, sewage discharges, and surface water runoff following

NHS England has announced that Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT), is one of six organisations across the country to be awarded Advanced Foundation Trust status. The new designation is intended to recognise NHS providers that are performing strongly across a range of measures, including quality of care, leadership, partnership working, and progress in improving health outcomes for local communities. According to NHS England, organisations awarded Advanced Founda

West Berkshire Council, our local authority, has launched a six-week consultation on the future of Adult Social Care, and residents, carers, families, and people with lived experience are being encouraged to take part. Adult Social Care supports many people across our communities, including older residents, disabled people, unpaid carers, and young people moving into adult services. The new strategy sets out six priorities that will help shape how support is delivered in the

Last year, the local authority carried out a full review of its Adult Social Care webpages. This included working in co-production with people with learning disabilities, carers, and stroke survivors, alongside a public survey to understand how people use the information available online. As a result of this feedback, a number of improvements were made to make the webpages more accessible and easier to navigate. What’s changed? Updates included: Adding pictures and icons Simp

A recent report, Care on Hold by Re-engage, explores how changes to GP access are affecting people. particularly older adults, at a time when digital routes are becoming increasingly central to how services are delivered. Alongside this national picture, Healthwatch West Berkshire has been working with wider Berkshire partners on a detailed understanding of digital exclusion across the county. Taken together, these two pieces of work highlight an important and growing issue:

The NHS App is continuing to evolve, with a new update this April making it easier for patients to check and manage hospital appointments in one place. This change is part of a wider shift towards more digital access across the NHS — but what does it actually mean for people, and what should we be paying attention to locally? What’s changed? Patients can now view hospital and specialist appointments directly in the NHS App, alongside GP appointments, prescriptions, and test

The refreshed Women’s Health Strategy for England sets out national priorities to improve how women access and experience health and care. It highlights the importance of listening to women, improving access to services like contraception and menopause support, and making care easier to navigate—especially closer to home. What this means for West Berkshire At Healthwatch West Berkshire, we’ve already spent time listening to local women about their experiences. You told us wha

This April, the NHS organisations that plan and pay for health services across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire have come together as NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB). The new ICB will support around 2.5 million residents across the Thames Valley. Importantly, there is no change to how you access NHS services. “Patients and the public will continue to access care and services in exactly the same way as before.” NHS Thames Valley ICB Why is this happeni

Millions of older people across England can now get vital protection against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common but potentially serious virus that can cause lung infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. The NHS has expanded its RSV vaccination programme to include all adults aged 80 and over, as well as everyone living in a care home for older adults – making around 3 million more people eligible. Although RSV often causes mild symptoms, it can be dangerous for o

But what about social care in West Berkshire? New findings from The King's Fund show that public satisfaction with the National Health Service has dropped to its lowest level on record. Only 1 in 5 people (21%) say they are satisfied with how the NHS is running, with long waits, staffing pressures and access challenges continuing to impact people’s experiences. But there’s another part of the system that people feel even more concerned about, and it often gets less attentio

A new national plan – the Neighbourhood Health Framework has recently been published, and sets out how health and care services could be reorganised around local communities. Rather than focusing on individual services like GP practices or hospitals, the aim is to build a “neighbourhood” model of care , where support is planned and delivered around the needs of local people. What’s changing? At the heart of the framework is a shift in how services work together. It focuses o