News
#WhatMattersMost halfway results: GP services are main focus for Healthwatch in East Berkshire
Our survey has had over 200 responses within the first few weeks, with people telling us about both positive and negative experiences of health and...
Autism Awareness Week
Support for World Autism week is needed now more than ever. The coronavirus pandemic has been particularly tough for many autistic people and their...
What Matters Most Survey
As we are a n ewly formed Healthwatch service ( covering Ascot, Bracknell Forest, Ma idenhead, Slough and Windsor ) we need your help to shape our...
COVID-19: What you need to know when visiting a care home
New Guidance from 8 March 2021 From Monday 8 March, residential care providers can arrange for visits to residents from single named visitors and essential care givers. Once the data shows it is safe, the Government also has plans to go further and allow more visiting - and more visitors. In mid-...
Healthwatch England Annual Report 2019 - 2020
Since COVID-19 struck, the work of the Healthwatch network to support and listen to local people became more crucial than ever. Find out more in Healthwatch England's 2019-20 annual report to Parliament about how we have helped make care better. Summary Read 'On Equal Terms', the Healthwatch...
Have your say on changes to the Mental Health Act
The government is planning to make changes to the Mental Health Act and is asking people to share their views on the changes, as part of an online consultation running until the end of April. In 2017 the government asked for an independent review of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA), to look at how...
Eating Disorder Week 2021
We are supporting Eating Disorder week which is taking place 1-7 March 2021. Beat is hosting the campaign to create a future where people experiencing binge eating disorder are met with understanding and compassion. Binge eating disorder will affect one in fifty of us in our lifetime, it is the...
Sign up for the Healthwatch Bracknell Forest Newsletter
Sign up to receive a regular email newsletter highlighting all of the work and projects we have been carrying out in Bracknell Forest. The newsletter also features health news from around Bracknell Forest and East Berkshire. We are producing our newsletter on a regular basis - so why not sign up to...
Investors in Volunteers award (IiV)
We are delighted to share the amazing news that Healthwatch Bracknell Forest alongside Help & Care has achieved the Investors in Volunteers (IIV) award. We were assessed in 2020 by NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) against key standards including: volunteer involvement,...
Households across Berkshire will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021
The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941. It will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with...
Help Us, Help You Lung Cancer Campaign
NHS England and NHS Improvement, together with Public Health England, are launching the ‘Help Us, Help You’ lung cancer campaign to encourage people with a cough lasting three weeks or more and who don’t have COVID-19, to contact their GP practice. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, some members...
Make a difference to Bracknell Forest - Become a Healthwatch BF Board Member
Are you passionate about health and care? Do you want to see services meet the needs of those who use them? Healthwatch Bracknell Forest, your local champion for health and social care, is looking for new voluntary Board Members for our local leadership board. As a Board Member, you will have a...
Coping guides to help support families and young people
During times of uncertainty – like when we all have to stay safe at home because of the coronavirus – it’s even more important to look after our wellbeing. Our colleagues from the NHS (East Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Group) have now released a series #Coping guides to pull together the best...
Find new ways to express yourself this Children’s Mental Health Week
Children and young people are being encouraged to explore different ways of expressing themselves for this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week (1-7 February). Run by children’s mental health charity Place2Be, Children’s Mental Health Week highlights the importance of looking after your wellbeing...
LGBT+ History Month
The purpose of LGBT+ History Month is to raise awareness of, and combat prejudice against, the LGBT+ community while celebrating its achievements and diversity and making it more visible. The LGBT+ community have made significant contributions to society, but there have been times where the...
Ask for Ani
The Government have launched a new code word scheme, where if you are experiencing domestic abuse and need immediate help, you can ask for ‘ANI’ in any participating pharmacy. ANI stands for Action Needed Immediately but is pronounced Annie. If a pharmacy has the ‘Ask for ANI’ logo on display, it...
Support for carers – vital sources of support and information for unpaid carers
Many people have become carers for older, disabled or seriously ill friends and relatives as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and are juggling new intense caring responsibilities with work and other life challenges. This is on top of the existing population of carers who have had to adapt to cope...
COVID-19 vaccine: what you need to know
Take a look about what you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccination programme including how you will know when it's your turn, where to go, and why it's important. We all have an important part to play to help the NHS deliver their vaccine delivery plan: Please do not contact the NHS to seek a...
NHS 111: How do I book a timeslot at A&E?
You can now book a slot at your local A&E if you need to by calling NHS 111. Find out what is changing and what it means for you and your loved ones. The NHS wants to make it easier and safer for patients to get the right treatment when they need it, without waiting a long time to be seen in A...
Warning - Coronavirus Vaccine Scam
There have been reports of a new scam where a person receives a text saying they need to book a vaccination appointment and it takes them to a fake NHS form which then asks for their bank details to prove their identity. The NHS will never ask for a person’s banking information so please do not...
Mental health support information and advice for Bracknell Forest
Mental health affects all of us at some point in our lives but there are plenty of sources of advice support and information. We have compiled a list of useful support resources for Bracknell Forest residents in need of mental health support information and advice. If you need help for a mental...
Keeping safe and well in the community – advice and guidance
There are many ways in which vulnerable adults can suffer or be taken advantage of so we have collated this guide to keeping safe and well in the community. We have worked with the Bracknell Forest Safeguarding Board (BFSB) to compile these resources to support community safety. Is it an emergency...
Coping with loneliness and isolation – support, information and guidance
For those living alone sometimes loneliness and isolation can become unbearable and have an impact on their mental and physical health. Information on loneliness and isolation along with links to organisations and groups who can provide support can all be found on this page: The Ark Are you unable...
Coping with family pressures – advice and information
The winter months bring extra challenges with financial pressures, families all under one roof, and combined with the stress of coping with Covid-19 this year. All of these issues can put increasing pressure on families, making it difficult to cope, which can cause mental health issues and other...
Help us help you to get the treatment you need – Advice and Information on using the NHS during the pandemic
If you need medical help you should still contact your GP practice, use NHS 111 online or call 111. If you are told to go to hospital it is important that you go to hospital. The coronavirus pandemic has resulted people becoming reluctant to use NHS services for a range of conditions that are not...
Staying healthy and well this Winter
The winter months bring many health and care challenges from Covid-19 to the flu, from loneliness to family stresses and strains. This time of year can take an increasing toll on people’s health, with Covid-19 still very much in the news, winter illnesses such as the flu, financial pressures,...
Local health services join forces with Waitrose to help protect local people from COVID-19
Bracknell and Ascot health services have joined forces with Waitrose to help protect local people from COVID-19. Waitrose has donated the use of its Sports and Leisure Centre at its head office in Willoughby Road, Bracknell, for the roll-out of the COVID 19 vaccine in the community, through a GP-...
Vaccine Rollout
East Berkshire CCG would like to reassure patients in Bracknell that the COVID-19 vaccine will be rolling out to over 80s locally in the near future. When it is the right time people will receive an invitation to come forward from the NHS, which will include all the information they will need to...
