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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

What does it mean for you? Plans for the future of NHS buildings could see hospitals becoming smaller and more specialised, with more care delivered in local communities instead. A senior official from the Department of Health and Social Care recently outlined how new hospitals should be designed to provide only the services that truly need to happen in a hospital setting, with everything else moving closer to where people live. This approach sits within the government’s wid

The government has published new, evidence-informed guidance to help parents and carers of children under 5 navigate screen time. With digital screens now a normal part of family life, this guidance offers practical advice to support informed choices to help little brains develop healthy screen habits. T he guidance recommends: • For under 2s - avoid screen time, other than shared activities like video calls with family or looking through photos together. For 2–5s: try to kee

On 26 February 2026, the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation published an interim report revealing deeply concerning findings about maternity and neonatal care across England. The investigation, led by Baroness Valerie Amos, has heard evidence from over 8,000 people and more than 400 families to date, and continues to gather input. What the Report Highlights The interim report makes clear that England’s maternity and neonatal system is struggling. Key th

Thank you to everyone who took part in our Poll and commented on our various media platforms about AI recording your GP Appointments. The results are showing that at the moment you're not quite comfortable with it, and need more information about how it works, and the benefits for everyone. We have now received a reply from , Dr Nick Broughton FRCPsych, Chief Executive NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB & NHS Frimley ICB National Priority Programme Direct

NHS England has launched a new “landmark” campaign encouraging people experiencing six common anxiety-related conditions to seek help through NHS Talking Therapies. Around one in five adults in England – an estimated 9.4 million people – are living with a common mental health condition. Yet many are not accessing support. A recent NHS-commissioned survey of over 2,000 adults found: 58% delay seeking help , believing their condition is “not serious enough” 1 in 5 people don’t

In November and December 2025, Healthwatch West Berkshire was asked by MP Lee Dillon to map how residents give feedback about local health and social care services. Our objective was simple: To understand how easy it is for residents to raise concerns, share experiences or make complaints. What We Found We identified over 140 separate feedback pathways across West Berkshire. While this suggests choice, the reality is a fragmented system with no clear “front door.” Feedback ro

In September 2025, the NHS England introduced Jess’s Rule  , a new patient-safety initiative designed to reduce missed or delayed diagnoses in general practice. The rule is named after Jessica Brady, who tragically died from cancer in 2020 after visiting her GP more than 20 times with ongoing symptoms before receiving a diagnosis. Her family campaigned for change to help prevent similar cases in the future. Jess’s Rule encourages a simple approach: “Three strikes and rethink

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has refreshed its five-year strategy (2025–2030), setting out how it plans to improve patient care and lead local health transformation. The updated strategy was shaped by input from 2,400 patients, community members, staff, volunteers and partners and it aligns with the NHS’s 10-Year Health Plan and places a strong emphasis on innovation and modern healthcare delivery. Key priorities include: Empowering patients  to take an active role in

Your Questions Answered Women's Health in West Berkshire Update What’s happening with the Women’s Health Strategy? Healthwatch West Berkshire continues to monitor progress on women’s health and the development of the Women’s Health Strategy for our area. This work is ongoing, but progress has slowed due to wider organisational changes currently taking place within Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB). Has Healthwatch asked for an upd

Looking for connection? You’re not alone. Sometimes we all need a place to go for a chat, to meet new people, or simply to sit with a cuppa and feel part of something. Locally, there are welcoming spaces where you can drop in, have a conversation, and enjoy some company – no pressure, just friendly faces. Empty Chairs  is one such space, taking place on 26 January at 7pm  at The Weirside, Newbury . It’s an opportunity to connect with others, share a drink, and spend time tog

How It Can Help You in West Berkshire Have you heard the phrase social prescribing and wondered what it means? It’s a growing service across the NHS, including here in West Berkshire, that can help you get support for the things outside traditional medical care that affect your health and wellbeing. What Is Social Prescribing? Social prescribing is a way of connecting you with non-medical support and community resources that can help improve your wellbeing, whether that’s red

A Big Step for Children’s Health A long-awaited ban on junk food advertising has come into force today, marking a significant shift in how children are protected from unhealthy food marketing. Under the new rules, adverts for foods and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar will be banned online at all times and on television before 9pm. This builds on voluntary restrictions introduced last October, but crucially moves from goodwill to firm regulation. The Government says the imp

Power Up Your Health! Your health matters, and we want to know about your experiences with health and healthcare in our area. Take our short survey here: 👉 https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/MensHealthWestBerkshire/ Alongside the survey, we’ll be sharing “Dear Men” health facts on our social media to help raise awareness of key issues. Your feedback will help Healthwatch West Berkshire understand men’s health locally and share the findings with our local commissioning services.

As we step into 2026, we’re excited to continue working with you to make health and social care services the best they can be for everyone in our community. At the beginning of this year, we’ll be focusing on two key areas : Pharmacy First   – We want to hear your experiences of using local pharmacies for advice and treatment. Men’s Health  – We’ll be gathering feedback on how services support men’s health needs and where improvements can be made. We have also been looking at

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