Advice & information

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