BBC Radio Berkshire will host the Brighter Berkshire Year of Mental Health campaign 2017 on Monday 20th February 11am-1pm, with a programme featuring Mental Health First Aid. Look out for these monthly broadcasts. Find out more about the Brighter Berkshire campaign. Find out more about the Brighter Berkshire campaign on Twitter. Sign up to the Brighter Berkshire mailing list

The clinical commissioners for South Reading and North and West Reading will be presenting their plans at a public meeting on Thursday 9th March 2017 from 10.30am to 12.30pm in the Concert Hall in Reading Town Hall. To attend the meeting please reserve your place using this link. The events includes:

The Berkshire West Primary Care Commissioning Committee meets in public at Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury, RG14 2DR on 8th March from 1pm to 4.30pm. To attend register using this link (or by phone 0300 123 6264) by 12 noon on the 7th March. Papers will be available on the South Reading CCG primary care committee page.

The Governing Body of South Reading CCG meets in public at 9.30-12,30 on Wednesday 1st March 2017 at the Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road, RG1 5EX. To attend use this link to register or phone 0300 123 6264 by 12 noon on the 28th February. Questions must be provided in advance - please email ppiteam.berkshirewest@nhs.net or phone to 0300123 6264.

The Guardian reported (2nd February 2017) that student applications to nursing courses had fallen by 23% this year. This is the first year that nursing students will not receive government busraries to cover fees and costs. Paradoxically, Government abandoned the bursaries partly to save money and partly to allow the number of students to increase. The applications from 18 year olds seem to have held up but those from older applicants have fallen drastically. This will mean less nurse.s qualifying in three years time.