The West Berkshire Neurological Alliance has published its August Newsletter with much detail including the funding of two specialist nurse positions for epilepsy and for ME/CFS.

Reading Borough Council has published the Summer 2013 edition of its Social Care newsletter Care Junction.

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.

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.