From the 15th May the way to access out-of-hours GP service in South Reading CCG area will be to phone 111 - the new NHS non-emergency number. This is a nationally designed service which will cover all non-emergency calls. 999 continues for emergency calls. The new 111 number is intended to take over completely from NHS Direct in South Reading by mid-June. Other parts of Berkshire West are on the same timetable.

Persistent venous leg ulcers are a troubling and often painful complaint.

Reading Community Learning Centre will be offering free courses on English language skills for healthcare users.

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has advertised for a community diabetologist. This is one of many steps that will reshape the NHS towards better care in the community over the coming years.

Reading's Health and Well-being Board meets for the first time on the afternoon of 21st June 2013.

The NHS Has taken on its new shape as of 1st April 2013 as the Clinical Commissioning Groups take over most procurement of hospital and other secondary level health services.

South Reading Patient Voice will meet on Wednesday 24th April at 6pm at the University Health Centre.on Northcourt Avenue.

The new shape of health service commissioning introduced by the Health and Social Care Act is already in place and fully running since 1st April 2013. But the regulations governing commissioning are still the subject of debate.

You may have heard that the NHS Direct telephone service is to be replaced by the new 111 service.

South Reading Patient Voice meetings on Wednesday 27th March at 6pm at the the University Health Centre.