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Access to NHS dentistry remains one of the issues we hear about most often at Healthwatch West Berkshire. A new analysis from the Nuffield Trust highlights the scale of the challenge, finding that around 1 in 10 NHS dental practices in England have stopped providing NHS care since 2017. The great extraction: the changing state of NHS general dental services in England | Nuffield Trust The research found that the proportion of dental practices offering NHS treatment fell from

NHS Services Under Pressure During a Busy Summer This summer has been one of the busiest on record for NHS services across England. Recent NHS figures show that emergency departments saw record attendance levels during July, with ambulance services and 999 call centres also experiencing exceptionally high demand. Despite these pressures, waiting lists have continued to reduce and performance against planned treatment targets has improved. While national statistics are encoura

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

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