Reading Borough Council is responsible along with the local NHS for arranging support services for carers. After a re-tendering exercise jointly with West Berks Council the contract is to be given to Carers Trust East Midlands who are based in Nottingham. Support will shift from Berkshire Carers to Carers Trust East Midlands at the end of March 2016.

We heard some time ago that South Reading CCG was asking Governing Body Lay Member Christopher Mott to stand down at the end of March 2016. The Western Berkshire Federation aims to avoid all lay member posts having to be replaced at one time. Christopher Mott has been Lay Member for Public and Patient Engagement for two years. Many will remember his genial introductions at major consultation events. It was easy to recognise his commitment to involving public and patients in the development of our local NHS.

A widely-drawn task force on mental health care appointed by NHS England has issued its report with a strategy for the next five years. The report has a wealth of information and recommendations with a focus on equalities and standards of care.

The report of the National Maternity Review, published in February 2016, sets new ambitions for the maternity services and services to mothers before and after childbirth. It calls for:

NHS England has asked CCGs to work together to integrate primary, secondary and social care in a place-based system of provision of person-centred care. In Western Berkshire the approach chosen by the four CCGs (Newbury, South Reading, North and West Reading and Wokingham) is to form an Accountable Care System (ACS) clustered around the Royal Berks Hospital as the main acute provider. The CCGs and the main providers are to cede some sovereignty and work together under a common direction to integrate services.