New Wokingham Road Surgery PPG Patients Group Page

21/02/2026

Our latest newsletter. Please share to your local community.

21/02/2026

Join us at Wokingham Library on Monday 23rd February 3:30-4:30pm for help & guidance using the NHS App.

25/01/2026

Cervical cancer screenings save at least 2,000 lives every year in the UK. Here's what you should expect from your smear test and why these screenings are important.One in 142 women in the UK will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in their lifetime. A cervical cancer screening, better known as a sme...

25/01/2026

It can be difficult to know what to do after a diagnosis of dementia. What decisions need to be made? Who do you tell? What support is available? 🤔

We've compiled a checklist of the next steps to take after a diagnosis of dementia. Would you add anything to this list? Let us know in the comments.

To view our full next steps checklist, visit our website: https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/specialist-diagnosis-and-support/how-to-get-a-diagnosis-of-dementia/after-a-diagnosis-of-dementia-next-steps-checklist/?utm_campaign=advice&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

25/01/2026

Winter comes with a higher risk of health issues, particularly for older people, those with long term conditions or those with compromised immune systems. We've collated all the tips from the NHS into one place so you can see what steps you can take to stay well - https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/advice-and-information/2025-10-07/how-stay-well-winter

25/01/2026

🎙 Episode 11 of Dear Ellen:
𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗔𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
This episode helps caregivers understand why confabulation happens—and more importantly, how to respond with calm, compassion, and reassurance instead of correction or arguments.

When we stop fighting the story and start understanding the need behind it, care becomes gentler for everyone involved. 🌿

📌 New to the podcast?
Dear Ellen is a Facebook Live podcast held once every two weeks that dives deep into dementia, caregiving, and the real-life experiences of families and caregivers.

🗓 January 31, 2026 — 7:00 PM (Philippines)

OTHER TIME SLOTS:
Southeast Asia - 7:00 PM
NE Asia (Japan) - 8:00 PM
Middle East (UAE) - 3:00 PM
Europe (UK) - 11:00 AM
N. America (EST)- 6:00 AM
Australia - 7:00 PM

💬 Join us LIVE—comment, share, and let’s talk about what truly matters for our aging loved ones.

🤝 Tag a caregiver who struggles with repeated stories or false memories.

🔗 𝐒𝐄𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄: facebook.com/dementiaspeaker

25/01/2026

Leaving feedback with us is quick and easy. Our form is available in Easy Read format online. So if you've used healthcare services recently - we want to hear about your experience. https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/easy-read-have-your-say/

25/01/2026

Look forward to seeing you there

Join us at Wokingham Library on Monday 23rd February 3:30-4:30pm for help & guidance using the NHS App.

23/08/2025

At our recent free Health Event, “What Can Crowthorne Do For You?”, Shamin Zafar and Simon Shaw delivered a presentation on the work that they do as part of HealthWatch.

This is what they had to say.

SO WHO ARE HEALTHWATCH AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

Healthwatch Wokingham Borough is your local health and social care champion for change.

Under the Health and Social Care Action 2012 HealthWatch must be commissioned in each area.

They have a statutory obligation under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

They have political independence and are independent of decision making.

The Advocacy People is commissioned as host to provide HealthWatch Reading as part of a portfolio of several HealthWatch services it maintains.

Their Vision is to bring closer the day when everyone gets the care they need.

Their Mission is to make sure that people’s experiences help make health and care
better.

Their Values include Listening to people and making sure their voices are heard.

⭐️ Including everyone in the conversation, especially those who do not always have their voice heard.

⭐️Analysing different people’s experiences to learn how to improve care.

⭐️ Acting on feedback and driving change.

⭐️ Partnering with care provides, Government, and the voluntary sector – serves as the
public’s independent voice.

Some of their Objectives include:

⭐️ Supporting GP surgeries to improve their communication with the public.

⭐️ Raising public awareness about to pathways for support and increase
understanding of the new ways of working

Increasing appropriate access to services and reducing complaints.

In a recent survey, of which 238 Wokingham participants took part, they have found that:

⭐️ Many people reported long phone waiting times, difficulties booking appointments, signification delays in getting appointments, and not being able to see their preferred GP.

⭐️ While tools like the NHS App are designed to simplify access to GP services, many patients, particularly older adults and those without strong digital skills, found it difficult to use.

⭐️ Many people were unaware that care navigators have replaced traditional receptionists. This system, while intended to streamline access, left patients, feeling frustrated and unclear about the process.

⭐️ Lack of clear communication from surgeries about changed in how GP services operate was a common theme. Many patients felt left in the dark about new systems and how to effectively navigate them.

Some of the recommendations from their findings are as follows:

⭐️ Surgeries should provide clear, accessible information on how appointments are shared out and alternative options. There should be simple, clear routes to accessing appointments.

⭐️ Make opportunities to assess whether a patient can access digital services effectively. Show a flag on each patient’s record indicating whether digital services are appropriate.

⭐️ Use an Infographic to show the workings of each section of the surgery, e.g. triaging to provide patients with a visual representation of workings in an accessible format.

⭐️ Surgeries would benefit sharing timelier information on changes or updates to services both in surgery, website and online. Ensure Easy Read, and accessible language is available.

If you would like to know more about these finding, and the work of HealthWatch, get in touch with us via email at ppgjointventure@gmail.com

10/08/2025

WHAT CAN CROWTHORNE DO FOR YOU?

New Wokingham Road Patient Participation Group (NWRS PPG) held a Heath and Well-being event at the Morgan Centre on Tuesday, 8th April, 2025.

We had nine stands at the event, and six guest speakers.

Marta Fisher of Digital BOB ICB was one of our guest speakers, and she delivered an interesting presentation on the NHS App and the Digital Cafes.

Below is a summary of what she had to say.

HOW DO WE ACCESS OUR MEDICAL RECORDS?

There are two ways that we can access our NHS Digital Records.

⭐️One method is via the NHS Account or via the NHS App using an NHS Login.

This gives you access to your health records, medication ordering, GP and hospital appointments, 111 services and proxy access.

⭐️ The other method is via General Practice Websites.

These do not require an account, and give you access to Self-triaging, appointments, medications, and general information about GP services.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DIGITAL ACCESS?

⭐️ Reduced costs

⭐️ Improves communication with patients

⭐️ Efficiency

⭐️ Empowers patients

⭐️ Integration with other services

⭐️ Convenience

⭐️ Reduces Carbon Footprint

WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO SUPPORT PATIENTS?

So far, the Digital Inclusion project has supported 2000 people across the organisation and within the community.

⭐️ 17 Digital Cafes have been established

⭐️ 19 mobile phones have been donated to women in need in maternity units

⭐️ Over 40 community organisations have been supported

⭐️ The Laptop Recycle Project has gone live and is expected to deliver 180 laptops to
those in need over the coming year.

⭐️ And the NHS BOB ICB is currently ranked as second in terms of NHS App downloads
(66%), and the South East National average is 58%.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THE NHS APP?

⭐️ View your GP records security, test results, hospital documents, consultation outcomes.

⭐️ Book and manage GP, Vaccination and hospital appointments.

⭐️ Find trusted NHS information and advices.

⭐️ Receive messages about your care.

⭐️ Order Repeat Prescriptions

If you would like help setting up access with the NHS App and learning how to use it, get in contact with us via New Wokingham Road Surgery, or visit the Digital Cafe which is held at Wokingham Library between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM on the 4th Monday of every month (except Bank Holidays).

12/07/2025

At our recent free Health Event, “What Can Crowthorne Do For You?”, Olga Zilberberg of The Missing Link gave a very interesting talk about the work that she does as a Facilitator at Bracknell and Wokingham Recovery Colleges.

Recovery Colleges offer a wide range of free courses to help people better understand and manage their mental health needs, recover and stay well.

They operate on a self-referral basis, focusing on the “student” rather than the “patient”, and create Personal Learning Plans that focus on what the “student” is interested in and needs.

Some of the workshops available include:

⭐️Managing Anxiety,

⭐️ Depression,

⭐️ Trauma,

⭐️ PTSD,

⭐️ Autism,

⭐️ ADHD,

⭐️ Managing Low Mood,

⭐️ Coping With Stress,

⭐️ Being Kind To Ourselves,

⭐️ Understanding Emotions,

⭐️ Improving Self-Esteem

As well as Wellbeing courses that focus on:

⭐️ Food and Mood,

⭐️ Confidence,

⭐️ Vision Boards,

And Creative courses such as

⭐️ Art,

⭐️ Craft,

⭐️ Signing,

⭐️ Yoga and

⭐️ Nature Walks.

If you would like to know more about these services, or receive information, then get a copy of “What Can Crowthorne Do For You?” Which is available from New Wokingham Road Surgery, and Crowthorne and Sandhurst Libraries.

25/05/2025

On Tuesday, 8th April 2025, New Wokingham Road Surgery PPG hosted their 5th Health Event at the Morgan Centre, in Crowthorne.

The event was entitled “What Can Crowthorne Do For You? Check Out Your Health And Wellbeing”.

The purpose of the event was to raise awareness on the many charities, organisations, and clubs available to us in the local community, that we may be unaware of, or not heard of before.

As there are times in our lives when we need someone to talk to for extra support, but we might not know where to turn to or whom to ask for help, especially if transport is a problem.

Living in a village that is split between two parishes and the two local Borough Councils, understanding what are the available community resources is crucial for both physical and mental wellbeing.

The evening was organised into a marketplace – style Health and Wellbeing intervention, bringing together local organisations that offer services to Crowthorne, Wokingham and Sandhurst residents, with each providing a 10-minute presentation about their work.

Organisations arranged their promotional booths, allowing the public to explore, engage in conversations, and collect information along with free giveaways.

Refreshments, such as tea and coffee were provided during the evening.

The second part of the evening was dedicated to the visiting organisations and their services delivering approximately ten-minute presentations, showcasing their work and explaining how public can access them.

The event also provided a great opportunity for all the professionals to network together too.