According to a recent report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health there is a growing gap in health between children of rich and poor households. Children living in our wealthiest areas are as healthy as any in the world, but those in deprived areas have health among the worst in the developed world.

Reading's Health and Wellbeing Board meets in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Bridge Street at 2pm on Friday 27th September 2017. The agenda includes updates supported by papers on the STP and ACS - local "by agreement" working organisation bringing together several CCGs and providers, the Health and Wellbeing strategy, work on FGM, safeguarding reports and other matters.

According to the Reading Chronicle the Royal Berkshire hospital has postponed the closure of its hydrotherapy pool until Summer, allowing time for discussions on the future of the pool with interested parties. According to our investigations, the closure had not been discussed with the Council of Governors at the hospital. Nor did our perusal of the Board papers for September, October or November reveal any Board level proposal for the closure.

A more complete but still draft version of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan for the commissioning area of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Western Berkshire has been published by South Reading CCG . This now has an account of expenditure reductions against "business as usual" attributed to various measures and discusses engagement and consultation at various levels.

The Alzheimer's Society is organising a support group for those caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease.on Meetings take place on the fourth Tuesday of the month starting on 24th January 2017 from 10.30am to 12.00 at Rivermead Leisure Complex. To attend please contact the society by phone with number 0118 959 6482 or by email to berkshire@alzheimers.org.uk . See also the informative document attached below.