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.

Crossroads Care Reading promotes, offers, supports and delivers high quality services for carers and people with care needs. 

Reading Rethink Carers Group provides help and support to carers of those with mental illness. All members are themselves carers, and can therefore offer help and understanding to those in a similar position.