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When you’re feeling unwell with a cold, cough, sore throat or minor infection, knowing where to go for help can make a real difference — not just for you, but for the whole local health system. In West Berkshire, many people are now being encouraged to use community pharmacies as a first port of call for common conditions. Pharmacists are highly trained, easy to access and can offer advice, treatment, and referrals where needed. But is this working in practice? And do local p

The NHS has warned that England’s health service is being pushed into a “worst-case scenario” this winter due to an unprecedented surge in flu cases — dubbed super-flu  — alongside ongoing pressures on urgent and emergency care. What’s Happening Record flu hospitalisations:  An average of ~2,660 people were in hospital with flu each day last week – the highest recorded for this time of year, and up 55% in just one week . NHS England Winter pressures rising:  Hospital beds use

The UK Government has announced a major overhaul of NHS dentistry, set to take effect in April 2026 , with the aim of improving access to care, especially for urgent and complex dental problems. For years, patients have struggled to find NHS dentists willing or able to treat serious dental needs. Appointments for pain relief, infections, or dental trauma have often been hard to secure, leaving people in discomfort or travelling far from home. These longstanding access issues

Getting fast, reliable dental care when you need it shouldn’t be difficult — especially when you’re in pain. To help make this easier for patients, BOB ICB (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West) has now rolled out the Government’s new Urgent Dental Care Scheme, offering both urgent and non-urgent unscheduled dental appointments across the area. Here’s what this means for people in West Berkshire. What does ‘unscheduled dental care’ mean? Urgent unscheduled care is:

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our Women’s Health in West Berkshire survey. Your feedback played an important part in helping us highlight the needs and experiences of women and girls across our area. We gathered views from those aged 14 and over, who shared their thoughts on topics including: Menstrual and gynaecological health Fertility, pregnancy, and postnatal support Menopause Mental health and wellbeing Cancer care The h

What This Means for Berkshire Residents From 1 December 2025, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will temporarily stop accepting new referrals to the Adult ADHD Service. This difficult decision has been made to protect patient safety and ensure the long-term sustainability of the service. Why is this happening? The Adult ADHD Service has seen unprecedented demand, far beyond what it was originally designed or commissioned to deliver. According to Berkshire Healthcare

UK Launches First-Ever Review Into LGBT+ Health Inequalities The NHS has just announced its first-ever national review  into health inequalities affecting LGBT+ people. This review will look at the barriers that prevent LGBT+ communities from getting fair, high-quality healthcare. Why It Matters LGBT+ people often face worse health outcomes and experience more challenges accessing care, including: Struggles with mental health support Lower participation in cancer screening Po

Fraudsters are impersonating the NHS through automated phone calls claiming patients must update their GP records or risk being removed from their practice list.  These calls are fake — the NHS will never : Call you to demand updates to your records Threaten to remove you from a GP list Ask for personal or bank details over the phone  If you receive such a call: Hang up immediately Contact your GP practice directly if unsure Report it to the NHS Counter Fraud Authority:...

What is it? The West Berkshire Directory is an online searchable directory of health, social care and community services for the district of West Berkshire. On the website you can search by keyword and postcode for services under categories for Adults, Families, and SEND (Local Offer). It includes listings for home care providers, advocacy services, mental health support, carer support groups, child-minders and many more. I t's maintained by the West Berkshire Council and aim

West Berkshire Council has released its latest Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Summary, which highlights the key health and wellbeing challenges facing our area A “Joint Strategic Needs Assessment” (JSNA) is a tool used by local partners (health, social care, local government) to understand current and future health, care and wellbeing needs. In West Berkshire, this rapid summary uses readily-available data as a starting point for conversations and prioritisation, how

How You Can Help Save Lives The NHS is currently facing critically low blood stocks , with some types nearing emergency levels. Alongside this, there's a growing need for plasma donations , which are vital for producing life-saving medicines. 🚨 Blood Types in Urgent Demand Hospitals across the UK are calling for donors of specific blood types due to high demand and low supply: O negative  – the universal blood type used in emergencies B negative  – rare and in short supply R

There’s some exciting news for women’s health! The government has announced that the Women’s Health Strategy   is being renewed, with fresh commitments to make sure every woman gets the care and support she needs, when she needs it. The renewed strategy aims to build on the progress already made, tackling long-standing inequalities and improving access to services. It follows the recent news that menopause will now be included in NHS Health Checks , another positive step in

Get Your Flu Vaccine, and stay healthy. Why it matters: Flu (influenza) isn’t just a “bad cold” — it can lead to serious illness, hospitalisation or even be life-threatening, especially for people with underlying health issues or who are older. The flu vaccine helps to protect you and those around you. Who is eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine? You’re eligible if you: Are aged 65 or over (or will turn 65 by 31 March 2026). Have certain long-term health conditions (e.g., res

Are you a carer?, do you know your rights as a carer?, pop in to the Carers Rights Day Event at Thatcham Rugby Club on Thursday 20th November to find out more. If you would like to find out more, contact Stephen.Hammond@Ageukberkshire.org.uk , or call 0118 959 4242

What do they mean for West Berkshire Residents? Earlier this month, NHS leaders in the Thames Valley region released their Commissioning Intentions for 2026–2030. This strategic plan outlines how healthcare services will be delivered across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, including West Berkshire. Key Priorities for West Berkshire Integrated Care Transformation : The plan focuses on shifting care from hospitals to local communities. This means more services will

The 2025 Youth Survey   held by West Berkshire Council gave over 5,000 children and teenagers the chance to have their say.. The results show some positive things, that most young people feel safe in their local area , which is good news, but they also highlight some real challenges and worries: Mental health and wellbeing is top of mind for 44% of young people. Bullying, including online, affects 42%. Vaping and substance use came up for 41%. Body image and self-esteem worry

Great news for women across the UK! In a significant move towards better women's health care, the government has announced that menopause will now be included in routine NHS Health Checks for the first time. This change is set to benefit nearly 5 million women aged 40–74, helping to raise awareness, improve diagnosis, and ensure timely support for those experiencing perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. Major NHS update brings menopause into routine health checks - GOV.UK W

West Berkshire Council will soon be launching a supervised toothbrushing programme for children aged 3–5 years across 15 preschool and school settings. Supported by national government funding announced in March 2025, the initiative aims to tackle oral health inequalities and help young children build lifelong healthy habits. Currently, in West Berkshire, around 17% of 5-year-olds experience tooth decay, which is a preventable issue that can affect eating, sleeping, and ove

The NHS Patient Charter is a simple, practical guide to your rights when using NHS services, and to what you can reasonably expect from the care you receive. It sets out clear standards to help ensure everyone gets safe, high-quality care, and encourages a partnership built on respect, trust, and communication between patients and healthcare professionals. Under the Charter, you can expect: Timely access to care and treatment Clear information about your health, treatment opt