It is reported that Government amendments tabled in Pariament today to the Care Bill - due to have its third reading in the Lords on Monday - give the Government or Monitor the right to order any hospital they like to reconfigure - in other words, close - with little consultation, to benefit neighbouring struggling hospitals. Can it be such a little time from "no decision about me without me" to this?

We will be meeting between 6pm and 7:30pm on Wednesday, 30th October at the University Health Centre, 9, Northcourt Avenue, Reading RG2 7HE. The central feature will be a debate regarding the continued aims of the Patient Voice within the context of an engagement strategy for NHS South Reading CCG, proposed by our Lay CCG Board Member, Christopher Mott.

We will be meeting between 6pm and 7:30pm on Wednesday, 30th October at the University Health Centre, 9, Northcourt Avenue, Reading RG2 7HE. There will be a discussion on the "plan on a page" for patient and public engagement for 2014/2015.

The South Reading NHS CCG Board met in public on Wednesday 18th September at the Museum of Rural Life on Redands Road. This is a chance to hear presentation of reports and monitoring of performance and of plans. At the end there is chance for members of the public to ask questions. Agenda and documents (many) are found here. It is only possible to recount certain points from a three and a half hour meeting. Lay board member for patient and pubic engagement, Christopher Mott, spoke to his paper.

Health commissioning groups in the Reading area will be holding a town meeting on Tuesday, 12th November from 7pm to 9pm at the Kennet Room (Reading Civic Centre). To book a place please phone 0118 982 2709 or send an email specifying the Reading Call to Action meeting on 12th November to nhs.calltoaction@nhs.net This is a local initiative under NHS England's Call To Action.