The Berkshire West Primary Care Commissioning Committee meets in public at Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury, RG14 2DR on 8th March from 1pm to 4.30pm. To attend register using this link (or by phone 0300 123 6264) by 12 noon on the 7th March. Papers will be available on the South Reading CCG primary care committee page.

The Governing Body of South Reading CCG meets in public at 9.30-12,30 on Wednesday 1st March 2017 at the Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road, RG1 5EX. To attend use this link to register or phone 0300 123 6264 by 12 noon on the 28th February. Questions must be provided in advance - please email ppiteam.berkshirewest@nhs.net or phone to 0300123 6264.

The Guardian reported (2nd February 2017) that student applications to nursing courses had fallen by 23% this year. This is the first year that nursing students will not receive government busraries to cover fees and costs. Paradoxically, Government abandoned the bursaries partly to save money and partly to allow the number of students to increase. The applications from 18 year olds seem to have held up but those from older applicants have fallen drastically. This will mean less nurse.s qualifying in three years time.

South Reading Patient Voice will meet at 6pm on Wednesday, 222nd February at RCLC, 94, London Street RG1 4SJ to discuss work on TB in South Reading and the CCG's operational plan for the coming year. Members will also hear news from Patient Participation Groups around South Reading and from Reading Healthwatch.

According to a recent report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health there is a growing gap in health between children of rich and poor households. Children living in our wealthiest areas are as healthy as any in the world, but those in deprived areas have health among the worst in the developed world.