Healthwatch Reading

26/01/2026

✨We’re delighted to share that our report on children’s oral health in Reading has been referenced in the British Dental Journal.

This recognition highlights the impact of our work to reduce oral health inequalities for children in Reading and to help improve local services and care.

A big thank you to our volunteer community connectors and the families who shared their experiences. Your contributions have helped us drive change in Reading.

To read the article and our report, click below ⬇️
https://qrgo.is/4263553a

We are delighted to share that our report (Core20Plus5: Exploring the oral health of children aged under ten years in Reading; Norcot, Church and Southcote Wards) has been referenced in the British Dental Journal* (9th January edition), showcasing the positive impact of our work to reduce oral healt...

23/01/2026

It's Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 💙

Cervical screening saves lives. It helps detect changes early, before they can develop into cervical cancer.

If you’ve received an NHS invite letter, please book your smear test. Taking a few minutes for screening could make a life-saving difference.

We've put together an information and advice page to tell you what to expect at a screening appointment. For more information , click on the link ⬇

https://www.healthwatchreading.co.uk/post/all-you-need-to-know-about-smear-tests

21/01/2026

Jess’s Rule is now being displayed in GP surgeries across England. It encourages doctors to take a fresh look if a patient has been seen three times without a clear diagnosis – “Three strikes and we rethink.”

The rule is named in memory of Jessica Brady, who tragically died aged 27 where her symptoms were not fully investigated. She had visited her doctor 20 times. Her parents’ campaigning has helped turn this tragedy into change that could save lives.

📣 If you feel Jess’s Rule hasn’t been followed in your care, or you’ve experienced repeated appointments without answers, please contact us and share your experience.

Your feedback helps us work with the NHS locally to improve services and patient safety.

For more information ⬇️

Jess’s Rule is a new patient safety initiative being displayed in every GP surgery in England from this week onwards. It is designed to help doctors spot serious illnesses earlier by encouraging them to take a "fresh eyes" approach when symptoms continue.How it works • Strike One: A patient visi...

14/01/2026

People in Reading told us about being wrongly billed for NHS care at Royal Berks Hospital, including bills sent to children and UK residents.

We listened, gathered evidence, and worked with the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, alongside community leaders and local voluntary organisations, in a community conversation to fix the issues. As a result, billing processes, staff training, and patient information are improving, helping to reduce stress and confusion for patients.

Read more about what happened and the difference our work has made in our impact statement below 👇

Most NHS care is free at the point of use, however, in some situations, people may be asked to pay for certain types of treatment. This is known as NHS overseas billing. The rules can be complicated, so any charges must be handled carefully and clearly explained. When there are billing errors, it ca...

05/01/2026

📢CQC inspection: My Homecare Reading & Bracknell rated Overall Inadequate

The Care Quality Commission has published its latest inspection report for My Homecare Reading and Bracknell. The service was placed into special measures after inspectors found serious concerns with safety, effective care, leadership and responsiveness.

The report highlights issues with staff training, medicine management, risk assessments, communication and inconsistent support for people using the service.

For more information and to read the report ⬇️
https://www.healthwatchreading.co.uk/post/cqc-takes-action-at-my-homecare-reading-and-bracknell

We want to hear from you:
If you’ve used this service, or if a friend or family member has experience of it, please share your views with us. You can give feedback anonymously, and we’ll pass it on to the CQC.

Share your feedback here ➡️ https://www.healthwatchreading.co.uk/have-your-say

Your voice can help improve care for others.

Share your anonymous feedback with us, and we’ll pass it on to the CQC.The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated My Homecare Reading and Bracknell as inadequate and has placed it in special measures to protect people following an inspection which ended in September. My Homecare Reading and Bra...

05/01/2026

GPs won’t normally prescribe over-the-counter medicines to treat most minor short-term conditions; however, patients who need these medicines for long term treatments will still get them on prescription. https://tinyurl.com/u3aszffm

23/12/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone in our community: our volunteers, community organisations and everyone who shared feedback, completed surveys or spoke with us throughout the year. Your time, experiences, and support help us make local health and social care services better for everyone.

Wishing you a healthy and peaceful festive season and a 2026 full of positive change and stronger local health and social care services.

You can find details of our opening hours over the Christmas period and the different ways to contact us here 👉

The Healthwatch Reading office has now closed for Christmas and New Year. • Our phone lines are closed and will reopen at 10am on Tuesday 6th January, 2026. • Our office is closed and will reopen at 9am on Monday 5th January, 2026You can contact us online and leave any feedback: Have Your Say | ...

23/12/2025

🎄 Need health support this Christmas? 🎄

From pharmacy opening times to NHS 111, mental health support and urgent dental care, our guide has everything you need to know over the festive period 👇

Below we feature local pharmacy opening times, who to call for non-emergency health concerns, including mental health support, and dentistry.PharmacyMany local pharmacies will be closed or operating reduced hours throughout the Christmas period. However, there are still some pharmacies local to the....

17/12/2025

Thanks to what local families told us our work has helped lead to a new free supervised toothbrushing programme for 1,800 children across Reading - we are delighted with this news.

In 2024, we listened to parents and carers about the challenges of children’s oral health and shared this in our report.

In Reading, over 1 in 3 five-year-olds experience tooth decay — higher than the national average. Some children as young as two years old have needed teeth removed due to decay. Families told us this is a serious and growing concern.

Following our recommendations, Reading Council will deliver daily supervised toothbrushing in 44 nurseries, schools and children’s centres from early 2026 — supporting young children, including those with additional needs.

This shows how local voices can lead to real change for our communities 💙

Healthwatch England

Read more below 👇

Healthwatch Reading is delighted to see the launch of a new free supervised toothbrushing programme that will support 1,800 children across Reading and help tackle rising levels of tooth decay among young children.Figures from an oral survey published in 2022 revealed that over a third of five-year-...

17/12/2025

The Resident doctors (formerly called junior doctors) will be taking industrial action from 7am Wednesday until Monday 22 December as part of a national strike in England.

Read how this impacts you and advice from Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust 👇

Resident Doctor’s are taking Industrial Action from Wednesday 17 December 2025 to Monday 22 December 2025 across England.Whilst Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is putting plans in place to reduce the impact that this will have on the running of the hospital, some appointments may need to be c...

27/11/2025

📣 There’s still time to share your views!

We, with Healthwatch Wokingham Borough want to hear about your experiences with the NHS App; whether you use it regularly, occasionally, or not at all.

With the NHS App set to become a ‘front door’ to services in the coming years, no one must be left behind, especially people who face digital exclusion.

📝 Read more about the project and take our quick, anonymous survey 👉 https://sholink.to/Rdg

ℹ️ We’ve also launched a new NHS App info & advice page to help you get started and find support in one place 👉 https://www.healthwatchreading.co.uk/post/nhs-app-information-page

We know not everyone can complete an online survey, so our engagement team is also out speaking to local communities. If someone needs a paper copy or another way to take part, get in touch.

Your voice helps make digital healthcare fair for everyone - thank you for your support.

Welcome to our NHS App information page. This is your one-stop page for support and guidance. Whether you're just getting started or want to learn more, we’ve got you covered. If you can’t use the NHS App on a mobile phone, you can still log in through the NHS website. This lets you access NHS s...

19/11/2025

Pop-up and walk-in local info and clinics - coming soon Venues and dates