Since the start of April 2015, the South Reading CCG, in common with other CCGs in the Berkshire West federation, has been jointly responsible for Primary Care with NHS England. This makes possible the design and implementation of an integrated health and social care system incorporating primary care. But of course, it also creates serious conflicts of interest, whose resolution is not evident to the public. The four CCGs in Berkshire West meet in a common Primary Care Co-Commissioning Committee to plan the evolution of primary care.

Plans for the redeveloped Townlands Hospital, the community hospital for Henley-on-Thames, promised 18 beds, but the public is now being told by Oxford Health, the Oxfordshire service provider, that only 5 beds will be provided. The Henley Standard is leading a campaign to restore the plans for 18 beds. At a recent public meeting 300 people turned up at a hall holding only 200 and many people were turned away.

A website devoted to the health and health problems of young children available in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Polish has been created by the four NHS clinical commissioning groups in the western part of Berkshire.

In a speech to the NHS Federation (the organisation of NHS service providers), the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, set the direction of the NHS for the new Government. His first point was the the path to patient safety is the same as that to economy.

"Diabetes Care" in Berkshire West will be the topic when Dr Richard Croft, lead GP for diabetes care in Berkshire West, addresses the group on Wednesday, 24th June at 6:15pm at the Reading Community Learning Centre, 94, London Street, RG1 4SJ.