South Reading CCG covering Reading from Tilehurst through Central Reading, Whitley, University and East Reading, is supporting World Breastfeeding Week from 1st to 7th August. There are events for pregnant women at the Whitley Sure Start Childrens' Centre - click here for details.

 The NHS 111 telephone service has now been fully launched in Berkshire, after extensive trials. Latest statement from South Reading NHS CCG (30th July 2013): " We are using South Central Ambulance Service, a respected and stable service which provides 999 call handling, to provide the NHS111 service for Berkshire. It has a strong clinical presence in the form of nurse practitioners and paramedics supporting the call handlers. Since phasing in the service performance has been closely monitored and has met Department of Health standards for strong performance. Across the whole of Berkshire more than 45,000 calls have been received since the service went live. So far there is a 25% reduction in GP Out of Hours activity and below national average referrals to 999 of 7%. Over 96% of calls are answered within 60 seconds. As Commissioners we are satisfied the public in Berkshire are getting a safe and strongly performing service that we will continue to monitor and improve. Although NHS 111 has experienced difficulties elsewhere in the country, we would like to reassure people that the service in Berkshire provides a high quality, safe and effective service for patients. However, it is under continuous review by the CCGs in Berkshire to ensure this level of service is maintained." The 111 service has been introduced and then withdrawn after catastrophic failure elsewhere, but here it has been carefully trialled and is being managed by the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. Here is the official announcement. The NHS 111 telephone service has now been successfully launched in Berkshire. NHS 111 is the number to call if someone needs medical help fast but they are not in a life-threatening situation. The service went live in July after undergoing a series of tests and assurance processes. The easy to remember, free to call number is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help people access the care they need, wherever they are and no matter what time of day it is. On dialling 111 callers are put through to a team of highly trained advisers, and experienced nurses and paramedics, receive a clinical assessment and are directed to the local service that can help them best at that time. This could be by providing details of the nearest pharmacy, direction to an appropriate service such as the GP out of hours service or even dispatching an ambulance if this is required. The service will increase the efficiency of the NHS by directing people to the right service at the right time and by avoiding delays and inappropriate use of services.such as 999 and Accident and Emergency departments, enabling them to be used by those who really need them. There are only three number people need to know, 999 for life-threatening emergencies, their GP surgery for routine health conditions and 111 for urgent/unplanned health conditions or when they are unsure of which service to access.

How 111 Works

• Free to dial, including from a mobile, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Immediate clinical assessment by trained call handlers, supported by experienced clinicians
• Ability to refer callers to other providers without the caller being re-triaged
• Ability to transfer clinical assessment data to other providers
• Ability to provide health information or reassurance, including self-care
• Replaces the old NHS Direct phone number (0845-46-47)

The provider of the NHS 111 service for residents in Berkshire is South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. NHS 111 now takes the calls to GP out of hours services and NHS Direct and any numbers previously used to access these services will have messages advising callers to dial 111. If you have any questions about NHS 111 in Berkshire please email nhs111berkshire.feedback@nhs.net

The Board of NHS England has just agreed that it will be transferring 3% of CCG budgets to integration of Health and Social Care controlled by Health and Well-Being Boards in 2015/16. Is this budget really going to be used for health purposes or is it a diversion of money from the NHS to save Government from funding social care properly? Are NHS England even acting within their powers in doing this? See the NHS England Board paper.

 We will be meeting between 6pm and 7:30pm on Wednesday, 26th June at the University Health Centre, 9, Northcourt Avenue, Reading RG2 7HE. There will be a speaker from Berkshire Carers Service and also a presentation on the annual QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Performance) process as well as information and discussion on current topics. Anyone registered with a practice in the South Reading CCG area may attend. If you have not been before please contact Karen Grannum on email address karen.grannum@nhs.net or on telephone 07500 072 720 to give your contact details beforehand.

We will be meeting between 6pm and 7:30pm on Wednesday, 31st July at the University Health Centre, 9, Northcourt Avenue, Reading RG2 7HE. There will be a speaker from Berkshire Carers Service and also a presentation on the annual QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Performance) process as well as information and discussion on current topics. Anyone registered with a practice in the South Reading CCG area may attend. If you have not been before please contact Karen Grannum on email address karen.grannum@nhs.net or on telephone 07500 072 720 to give your contact details beforehand.

The AGM of the Royal Berkshire Hospital Foundation Trust is on 11th July. Membership of the Trust is free and puts you in touch with developments at the hospital. The AGM is at the Palmer Building at the University of Reading on Thursday 11th July. It starts at 6:15pm with time to look round the exhibition. The formal meeting includes a presentation by the Emergency Department.

The board of the South Reading CCG met in public for the first time at the Museum of English Rural Life on Wednesday, 19th June, 2013. Highlights of the meeting were a review of the year's aims for the CCG, the quality scorecard up to 2 months back, the risk analysis, budget reports and plans. Quality strategy and policies on risk assessment and safeguarding were adopted. Dr Elizabeth Johnston, reviewing the year's aims, noted that South Reading CCG area was the area in Berkshire West with the most children. Takeup of immunisations and maintenance of breast feeding in the first six weeks were aims, as well as improved takeup of cancer screenings, more cardiovascular disease checks and better coverage of care for diabetics. The quality scorecard revealed one case of MRSA at the RBH (target none) and a rise of almost 50% in unplanned admissions to RBH from quarter 1 to quarter 4, no doubt partly driven by our long cold Spring this year. Also some falling short of target on time to first suspected cancer treatment and time to get onto Stroke ward. Ceasarean section rates in maternity exceeded target percentage. The risk register highlighted a number of points: issues at a local nursing home, pressure on A&E at RBH, and the consequences of poor or late data caused by the long settling-in of the RBH's new patient record system. It was reported that 4 new business cases had been approved.

1. Funding for a new Community Diabetologist.
2. One-off funding for a map of medicine for diabetes.
3. Funding for enhanced diabetes primary care for staff training and more patients adopting self-management.
4. Enhanced funding for the service navigation team at RBH funded out of the penalties imposed on RBH for more unplanned treatments than in 2008-9.

The register of board members' interests and the problem of conflict of interest in commissioning additional services from GPs were discussed. The meeting closed with questions from members of the public present, answered by various board members. Next board meeting will be on 18th September 2013. The full text of the reports can be found at this page.

We will be meeting between 6pm and 7:30pm on Wednesday, 26th June at the University Health Centre, 9, Northcourt Avenue, Reading RG2 7HE. We will be discussing latest developments in local commissioning of heathcare, we will review the CCG's prospectus, lay board member Christopher Mott will explain his position and duties, report on the public CCG board meeting and the public Health and Wellbeing board meeting and there will be time for members to bring up other particular concerns. Anyone registered with a practice in the South Reading CCG area may attend. If you have not been before please contact Karen Grannum on email address karen.grannum@nhs.net or on telephone 07500 072 720 to give your contact details beforehand.

We will be meeting from 6pm to 7:30pm on Wednesday, 29th May 2013 at 9, Northcourt Avenue, Reading, Berks, RG2 7HE. Anyone registered with a practice in the South Reading CCG area may attend. If you have not been before please contact Karen Grannum on email address karen.grannum@nhs.net or on telephone 07500 072 720 to give your contact details beforehand.

We will be meeting between 6pm and 7:30pm on Wednesday, 26th June at the University Health Centre, 9, Northcourt Avenue, Reading RG2 7HE. We will be discussing latest developments in local commissioning of heathcare, we will review the CCG's prospectus, lay board member Christopher Mott will explain his position and duties, report on the public CCG board meeting and the public Health and Wellbeing board meeting and there will be time for members to bring up other particular concerns. Anyone registered with a practice in the South Reading CCG area may attend. If you have not been before please contact Karen Grannum on email address karen.grannum@nhs.net or on telephone 07500 072 720 to give your contact details beforehand.