Pulse Today magazine has reported that NHS England is planning that ALL GP referrals should be prospectively peer reviewed and is arranging a system of funding to incentivise this. Experience shows that this can reduce the overall rate of referrals. A concern is that reviewers may be making decisions with insufficient information. It is very much to be hoped that our Council of Practices will take direct responsibility and accountabiilty for this rather than farming it out to an external entity.

The Primary Care Commissioning Committee for Berkshire West meets in public at 1pm on Wednesday, 13th September at Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2DR. If attending please register online. For details on asking questions at the meeting please see here.

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental healthcare and community nursing throughout Berkshire and out-of-hours GP services in Berkshire West, is holding its AGM at 2pm on Wednesday 13th September at Easthampstead Baptist Church, South Hill Road, Bracknell, RG12 7NS. The meeting is open to members of the public. If intending to be at the AGM please email Berkshire Healthcare Communications Team or let them know by phone at 01344 415736.

Diabetes UK has welcomed this as we do - yet we would point to the relative lack of ambition in the pledge. Come on Berkshire West! Doesn't everyone, or their carers, need to get new understanding after diagnosis?

The NHS Clinical Research Network for Thames Valley and the South Midlands will be holding a drop-in event in the Victoria Hall of Reading Town Hall from 1.30 - 5.30pm on Tuesday, 12th September 2017. The event is organised to inform visitors about the clinical research going on in Berkshire and to give the members of the public a chance to get involved. For more details please click here .