Today the cost of an NHS prescription will increase, rising from £9.65 to £9.90 per item in England. A 12-month NHS prescription prepayment certificate, which covers all NHS prescriptions for a set price, increases from £111.60 to £114.50. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society said prescription charges in England should be scrapped. “This is a dark day for patients. Amid the cost of living crisis, the rise in prescription charges will hit working people on low incomes the hardest. The relentless annual increase in the prescription charge is making medicines unaffordable for many. This is totally unacceptable. Every day pharmacists are asked by patients who are unable to afford all the items in their prescription which ones they can ‘do without.'" Tase Oputu, Chairman - Royal Pharmaceutical Society Full details of the new charges from 1 May 2024: The cost of living crisis has put many people under financial strain, and prescription costs are more than some can afford. There is help out there to help you cover the cost of your medication. See if you are eligible for help The Government has a five-minute online survey that will let you know if you can get free NHS prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests. More information and advice For more information and support paying for your prescriptions, check out the following resources: This leaflet for patients provides information on services that can help with health costs NHS help with costs helpline – 0300 330 1343 NHS website on help with costs Citizen's Advice guidance on health costs Macmillan information for those living with cancer Age UK advice on free prescriptions for over 60s Carers UK guidance for carers Tell us what you think about the costs of prescriptions and we will share your feedback with the local NHS leaders anonymously. Call: 0118 214 5579 Email: info@healthwatchreading.co.uk Online: click here to complete a short online form.

Measles cases have risen across the UK. Find out about measles, who can get the vaccine, and what you can do to stay safe. What is measles? Measles is a highly contagious infection caused by the measles virus. Most children recover from measles without complications, but in some, it can be more severe and lead to admission to hospital. To learn about the symptoms of measles, check out the NHS website. What is the measles vaccine? The NHS advises that children receive two vaccine doses to protect them against measles, mumps and rubella. The measles vaccine is also known as MMR vaccine - protecting you against all three of measles, mumps and rubella in one dose. The vaccine is given in two doses: the first dose when the child is one year old and the second when they are three years and four months old. Both doses are needed for the best protection. The NHS advises that the MMR vaccine is safe, effective and the best protection for your child. Although there have been historic concerns that the MMR vaccine is linked to autism, there is no evidence of this. Several studies have been conducted and found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Need to arrange a vaccine? If you need to get your child's MMR vaccine or check if your child is fully protected, contact your local GP practice. Who is at risk? People most at risk are: Babies Young children Pregnant women People with a weakened immune system. These groups are most at risk of the virus spreading to other parts of the body and causing rare complications such as hearing loss, meningitis or pneumonia. How does measles spread? Measles spreads when you have close contact with other people. For example, it tends to spread quickly in schools and nurseries. The virus can be spread by: Coughing or sneezing Direct skin-to-skin contact Sharing cutlery, cups, towels, clothes or bedding. How to prevent measles from spreading To reduce the risk of spreading the infection, always be careful to: Regularly wash your hands with soap and water. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of any used tissues immediately. If you think you or your child might have measles, contact your GP practice and speak to your doctor immediately. They will advise you on treatment options and how long you will be contagious.

Access to NHS dental care continues to be one of the main issues we hear about from Reading locals but it's an issue that is also affecting people across the whole of the UK. We've put together a Q&A to help you understand what is happening and what to do if you need an NHS dentist. I am looking for an NHS dentist. Currently, no dentists are accepting new NHS patients across Reading. Many dental practices have very long waiting lists. You can join more than one dental waiting list. Where can I check to find out if dentists are taking on NHS patients? You can visit or phone local dental practices to see if they are taking on NHS patients. You can also find a list of dentists taking on more patients on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services You can also visit the Dental Choices website – this is not part of the NHS but also lists NHS dentists taking on new NHS patients to their waiting lists: http://dentalchoices.org/find-a-dentist You can call NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 2233 and they may be able to help you find the nearest dentist accepting NHS patients, but you may be asked to travel some distance to get an appointment. I have an urgent dental issue or emergency but no dentist, what do I do now? You can: Phone NHS 111. They can book an emergency appointment for you. Phone any local NHS dentist and ask if they can give you a one-off NHS dental appointment. It is not possible to request treatment by e-mail. Book urgent or emergency dental appointments only with the dental practices listed below. Booking yourself an urgent or emergency dental appointment: These dental appointments are not for routine dental care/checkups. They are for urgent or emergency dental appointments with the dental practices listed below. From 1st April if you do not have an NHS dentist and you fall under one of the groups below you will be able to book routine care/checkups, on-going treatment and urgent appointments: Urgent Need Clinically Vulnerable Looked After Children Extractions required before Orthodontic Treatment Care Home Residents (who are able to travel to practice) Expectant and nursing mothers Armed Forces family members Homeless patients Asylum Seekers/Refugees For further information on who these dental appointments are for, please click here. There is only one dental practice offering this in the Reading area and the rest are outside Reading, but you can still attend these for your urgent/emergency care only. The practices have been given special funding to offer additional dental appointments. Not all dentists offer these. We advise that you phone the dental practices below as soon as they open each morning to book an appointment. Appointments get filled quickly. Please mention Healthwatch Reading when booking your urgent or emergency dental care appointment. Bespoke Dental Care/Gentle Dental Care, 6 Chapel Hill, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 5DG, 0118 945 2900 / 0118 945 5555 Smile Dental Care, 8-10 High Street, Twyford, RG10 9AE - 0118 832 1803 Winnersh Dental Practice, 410, Reading Road, Wokingham RG41 5EP - 0118 978 6385 Westwood Dental Practice, 29 London Road, Slough SL3 7RP - 01753 522091 Smile Dental Centre, 24 High Street, Slough, SL1 1EQ - 01753 523410 Moonlight Dental Surgery, Wentworth Avenue, Slough, SL2 2DG - 01753 526301 SC Dental Studio, 281 Farnham Road, Slough, SL2 1JF - 01753 550888 Cippenham Dental Practice, 424 Bath Road, Cippenham, SL1 6JA - 01753 577017 What is the Community Dental Service - can I use this service? This service provides dental treatment for children and adults who cannot access treatment at general dental practices. Instead, dental services take place in hospitals, specialist health centres and mobile clinics, as well as home visits. This could be because of needing specialist care, disability, learning difficulties, language barriers, phobias etc. Some hospitals or health centres may be able to offer treatment under sedation or general anaesthetic. You can find out more about community dental services, here or you can contact NHS England on 0300 311 2233. What is Healthwatch Reading doing about the dental crisis? We're in regular contact with NHS England - South East Dental and NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) to get the latest information on local dental services. BOB ICB has responsibility for planning and funding NHS services for local people across Berkshire West, which includes Reading locals and dentistry services. NHS England - South East Dental deliver the dentistry service to you and Reading locals. Healthwatch Reading is an independent statutory body which means we have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision-makers listen to your feedback. We ask locals to share their views, concerns and experiences on dentistry services. We then share your experiences anonymously with the teams mentioned above, and other local groups, so that they know the local issues, the impact of the crisis, and how to make change to local services. Your feedback is also sent to our national body Healthwatch England and is used as evidence in debates and committee meetings with the UK government so that changes can be made to NHS dentistry across the UK.  Click here to find out more. Read more about the work our national body, Healthwatch England's has been doing, and its position on NHS dentistry here. More information on the UK Government's new dentistry plans published on 7th February 2024, can be read here. Share your views on local dentistry Have your voice heard and help to improve local services. Tell us what you think about local dental services (good or bad) or if you are unable to get the treatment that you need: Call: 0118 214 5579 Email: info@healthwatchreading.co.uk Online: click here to complete a short online form.

NHS dental fees will go up by four per cent from 1 April. This is despite the fact that last year patients were faced with the steep increase of 8.5 per cent. New fees: £26.80 for Band 1 course of treatment £73.50 for Band 2 course of treatment £319.10 for Band 3 course of treatment You can check if you are eligible for free or reduced cost NHS dental treatment using the NHS eligibility checker at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check. Responding, Chris McCann, Healthwatch England's director of campaigns said: “We are disappointed that the government has rejected our call to freeze NHS dental charges this year.“ Our latest research shows that one in five people are put off going to the dentist because of cost. This is up from 15% in March last year. Worryingly, 40% of those experiencing the greatest financial pressure said they had avoided going to the dentist because of cost, compared to just seven per cent of people who said were very comfortable. “The rise in dental charges is compounded by that fact that last year’s increase of 8.5% was the highest on record. “And while it’s true that some people are entitled to exemptions from NHS dental charges – they may not be able to benefit due to other dental pressures. We’ve heard from women during pregnancy and after birth, who don’t end up receiving free NHS dental care they’re entitled to, because they can’t find an NHS dentist able to see them during this period.“ There is a twin crisis of access and affordability in NHS dentistry that must be tackled. We’re calling on both DHSC and NHS England to ensure they fully promote the exemption categories and also the NHS Low Income Scheme which can partly but not fully cover dental charges for those who qualify.” Polling was carried out by Yonder between 26-28 January 2024 on a representative sample of 2008 people from England. Read more about how to get an NHS dental appointment and what is happening in Reading, by clicking here. Share your views on local dentistry Have your voice heard and help to improve local services. Tell us what you think about local dental services (good or bad) or if you are unable to get the treatment that you need: Call: 0118 214 5579 Email: info@healthwatchreading.co.uk Online: click here to complete a short online form.

The NHS has launched a major transformation to try and make it easier for patients to access the care they need. What is Pharmacy First? Patients across England can now get prescription-only treatment for seven common conditions at their local high street pharmacy, without seeing a GP. This can include prescribing and supplying antibiotics and antivirals where clinically appropriate. What conditions can be treated at my pharmacy? Your local pharmacy can now supply prescription-only treatment, if they believe you need it, for the following conditions: Sinusitis (for patients aged 12 years and over only) Sore throat (aged 5+) Earache (aged 1 year-17) Infected insect bite (aged 1 year+) Impetigo (aged 18 years+) Shingles (aged 18 years+) Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (women aged 16 to 64) How does it work? If you are feeling unwell with any of these conditions, you can go to your local participating pharmacy and ask for a private consultation with the pharmacist. A GP practice may also refer you if they don’t have any appointments and believe your pharmacy can help. The 111 helpline service may also refer you. Pharmacists can also offer this service on-the-spot if you go in asking for generalhelp. Pharmacists may offer a virtual consultation by phone or video call, or in person in a private room in the pharmacy. They will ask questions, may perform an examination and must get your consent to access your medical records. The pharmacist can recommend the best course of action based on your clinical needs. This might include issuing prescriptions for antibiotics or antivirals where necessary or advising you on over-the-counter treatments that could help. What are the benefits of the scheme? There are many benefits to the new scheme, helping to make care easier and more accessible. These benefits include: Participating pharmacies must offer the service during all their opening hours including any late nights or weekends. It may be quicker to see your pharmacist than waiting for an appointment with your GP. Pharmacy First – along with expanded Blood Pressure Check  and Oral Contraception services at pharmacies – could free up to 10 million GP appointments a year. How can my pharmacist supply a prescription-only medicine if they are not a doctor? Pharmacists must follow a strict NHS protocol (called a ‘patient group direction’) covering their own required knowledge and skills the types of patients covered. This means that the supply of prescription-only medicines will be limited in all cases by age groups, and in one case, by gender. Will I have to pay for my advice or medication? The appointment and advice from a pharmacist are free to access. If you are recommended an over-the-counter medication, you will pay the costs of buying this. If you are supplied with a prescription-only medication, usual prescription charges would apply unless you qualify for free prescriptions. If you regularly require medication and are not exempt from prescription charges, you may be able to save money through a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). Find out what help you can get to pay for your prescriptions. How do I know if my local pharmacy is participating? Most pharmacies have agreed in principle to deliver the new service but may launch at different times. Pharmacists across Berkshire including Reading have been trained and are offering this service. Can I get oral contraception without a prescription? From December 2023 pharmacies began to start women on oral contraception (also known as ‘the Pill') for the first time, or re-start them after a break, without the person needing to see their GP first. This is an extension of the existing oral contraception service that let women go to pharmacies for repeat prescriptions, that had been initiated first by a GP. The pharmacist will offer a confidential consultation to discuss your current medication and ensure it is the best option for your needs. Oral contraception is free on the NHS, and you will not be charged any prescription charges. To find a local pharmacy offering this service, click here. Can I still see my GP? You can still choose to visit your GP if you prefer. Pharmacy First offers an alternative route for treating these specific conditions. Share your views on Pharmacy First with us Have your voice heard and help to improve local services. Tell us what you think about this new pharmacy service (good or bad): Call: 0118 214 5579 Email: info@healthwatchreading.co.uk Online: click here to complete a short online form.

NHS England has announced the rollout of ‘Martha’s Rule’ in hospitals across England from April, enabling patients and families to seek an urgent review if their condition deteriorates. The patient safety initiative, known as ‘Martha’s Rule’, is set to be rolled out to at least 100 NHS sites from April. It will give patients and their families round-the-clock access to a rapid review from an independent critical care team if they are worried about their or a loved one’s condition. This escalation process will be available 24/7 to patients, families and NHS staff, and will be advertised throughout hospitals, making it quickly and easily accessible. Evaluation of the initial roll-out from at least 100 trust sites during 2024/25 will inform proposals for 'Martha’s Rule' to be expanded further across all acute hospitals, subject to government funding. NHS teams will also identify ways to roll out an adapted 'Martha’s Rule' model across other settings, including community and mental health hospitals, where the processes may not apply in the same way. Healthwatch England has supported the implementation of 'Martha's Rule'. Responding to the announcement, our CEO Louise Ansari said: “The news that Martha's rule will be implemented in NHS hospitals is hugely welcome. "Patients can already request second opinions on their treatment, and most doctors respect these requests. However, the new rule will help shift the balance of power from medical discretion towards the patient or their family, who will be able to trigger a second opinion directly. If implemented correctly, with clear communications to raise awareness about people’s rights, the introduction of Martha's Rule will help to reassure patients and their families and save more lives in future.”

The National Diabetes Experience Survey is a new survey which gives people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in England the opportunity to feedback on their experiences. NHS England will use the findings to understand and improve the experience of NHS care and self-management for people living with diabetes. NHS England is inviting over 100,000 adults living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in England to complete the survey. If you are invited, you will receive a letter with information about the survey. Please don’t miss the opportunity to take part and share your experiences of care. NHS England need as many people as possible to take part so that the results reflect the views of different people living with diabetes. The survey takes no more than 15 minutes to complete and can be done online, on paper, or over the phone. The survey opens on 18th March 2024 and closes at the end of May 2024. The results of the survey will be available in Autumn 2024. If you need more information or support completing the survey, you can: Phone: 0800 470 2983 (free helpline) Email: diabetessurvey@ipsos.com Online: www.diabetessurvey.co.uk For more information about accessibility and completing the survey in another language, please click here. The survey is anonymous and all personal data will be kept safe. For more information about the use and protection of data, please click here.

Everyone from across Reading is welcome to join International Women's Day celebrations at Radstock Community Centre on Friday 8 March from 11am. This event is hosted by local charities Utulivu Women's Group and Project Salma. It's a great chance to come together with locals from around the area and enjoy inspiring talks and dance. You can pop along at any time. You do not have to register to attend this event. Radstock Lane Community Centre, Radstock Lane, RG6 5UL is located opposite the Town Council Offices and within the grounds of Radstock Primary School. There is parking available onsite. What is International Women's Day? With well over a century of history and change, the first International Women's Day (IWD) was held in March 1911. IWD isn't country, group or organization-specific. It's a day of collective global activism and celebration that belongs to all those committed to forging women's equality. World-renowned feminist, journalist and activist, Gloria Steinem, reportedly once explained: "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights." International women's day aims to promote a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive and a world where difference is valued and celebrated. The theme for this year is  #InspireInclusion celebrating women's achievement and raising awareness about discrimination. Today is about taking action to drive gender parity. When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment. Contact details To find out more about International Women's Day you can visit their website.

Did you know your GP surgery has a team of people trained to see and treat patients for a variety of conditions? You don’t always have to see a doctor. Find out more about the team that makes up your GP surgery and their different job roles below. Please note that not all local GP surgeries in Reading have all these professionals working in all GP surgeries. Each GP surgery is different and we recommend speaking to your surgery to find out who you can see. Learn more below and watch the videos of the professionals that can help you here. Advanced care practitioner: Care navigator also known as a Receptionist: Advanced care practioner: Care coordinator: Dispensary manager: General practioner (GP): Health visitor: Health and lifestyle practitioner: Healthcare assistant: Nurse practitioner: Pharmacist: Practice nurse: Pharmacy technician: Physician associate: Social prescriber: Physiotherapist:

It's that time of the year again when the team come together to create a workplan for the coming year (April 2024 - March 2025). We want Reading locals to help us decide which project areas we should focus on to help make changes to local health and social care services for everyone. Fill out a short survey and just tick the three projects that matter to you the most. You can also leave comments and other ideas for projects. Please complete by Sunday 23rd March. Click here to complete the survey. You can read our current work plan (April 2023-March 2024), by clicking here. Thank you for your time.

We're delighted to announce that we have moved to new office space in Reading. The recently expanded team are now available five days a week at Oxford Road Community Centre. Our full address: Oxford Road Community Centre, 344 Oxford Road, Reading, RG30 1AF Our phone number remains the same: 0118 214 5579

From January 31 patients will be able to get treatment for seven common conditions at high street pharmacies across the UK without needing to see a GP, as part of a major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care and services. Highly trained pharmacists will be able to assess and treat patients for: sinusitis sore throat earache infected insect bite impetigo shingles uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (under the age of 65) without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. It builds on the successful expansion of the contraceptive pill service in December 2023, with more than 5,000 pharmacies now registered to offer women the chance to get a supply of oral contraception over the counter from their pharmacy without needing first to see their GP. In future, the NHS expects almost half a million women a year to receive their contraception from their high street pharmacist. What does this mean for Reading locals? Over 400 pharmacists will have been trained for the Pharmacy First service by the middle of March across the Southern Counties which includes Berkshire ( and Reading). Every pharmacy locally has opted into the Pharmacy First service. All practices have up-to-date information on which pharmacies are providing the Pharmacy First service and will make referrals to the appropriate pharmacy based on patient choice and the appropriate pharmacy. Should a patient walk into the pharmacy, and that pharmacy is unable to provide the Pharmacy First service, the patient will be signposted to another pharmacy, as training continues. Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said: “GPs are already treating millions more people every month than before the pandemic, but with an ageing population and growing demand, we know the NHS needs to give people more choice and make accessing care as easy as possible. “People across England rightly value the support they receive from their high street pharmacist, and with eight in ten living within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy and twice as many pharmacies in areas of deprivation, they are the perfect spot to offer people convenient care for common conditions. “This is great news for patients – from today you can pop into one of more than 10,000 high street pharmacies in England to get a consultation on seven common conditions including ear-ache, a sore throat or sinusitis at a convenient time, with many pharmacies open late into the evening. Community pharmacies already play a vital role in keeping their local communities healthy and well. And pharmacists are now ramping up the number of life-saving blood pressure checks given to at-risk patients over the next year with a commitment to deliver 2.5 million a year by Spring 2025 – up from 900,000 carried out in 2022. It is estimated this could prevent more than 1,350 heart attacks and strokes in the first year. The Government has made £645 million of new funding available to support the continued expansion of community pharmacy services. one to the development of other NHS clinical services in the future, as patients become familiar with going to their local pharmacy for primary care.” Louise Ansari, Chief Executive, Healthwatch England, said: “As with access to the contraceptive pill announced last month, patients will welcome the extension of pharmacy services to include common conditions. It will offer them greater flexibility and provide a safe alternative to seeing a GP, which we know remains a real challenge for many people across England. “It will, however, take time for pharmacists to get trained and ready for change. Patients and GP services need up to date information on which of their local pharmacies are offering direct supply of medicines for one, some, or all seven of the new conditions. Investment in a national campaign to raise awareness of the new services and build trust in pharmacists will also be essential and, crucially, this will need to reach all communities to be effective.”