Reading Borough Council is consulting on stopping its funding of "Reading Your Way". You can have your say at consult.reading.gov.uk (click on "See all consultations"). The consultation closes on 28th February 2017. Reading Your Way offers group sessions with a variety of activities and one-to-one support for those recovering from mental illness. It is based in Rupert Square and also uses the Sun Street centre in East Reading for many activities.

The campaign for better mental health awareness and engagement "Brighter Berkshire 2017 - Year of Mental Health" launches on Monday 16th January 2017 with a 2 hour programme on BBC Radio Berkshire at 11am. More information at www.brighterberkshire.com. Twitter tag: @BrightBerks Singing for mental well-being activities: @BrighterVoices

Healthwatch Reading has reported that patients had been diverted from Southcote's Circuit Lane practice to the Reading Walk-In Centre. A post on Healthwatch Reading's website read: "Patients have told us of long delays in getting repeat prescriptions and they cant get on-the-day appointments for unwell children. Staff are telling them to go to the Reading Walk-in Centre without checking how urgent their problem is." The Reading Walk-In Centre serves the whole of Reading for urgent care as well as providing primary care for those registered there. Although it is open from 8am to 8pm we have heard that patients arriving after 6pm are sometimes told that they cannot be seen on the day as there are already too many patients waiting.

Reading Trades Union Council has organised a meeting to "Help Save the NHS" on RISC, 35-39, London Street, RG1 4PS, on !6th January 2017, from 7pm to 9pm. There will be speakers from GMB, Unison and DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts).

Steve McManus started as the new CEO of Royal Berkshire Hospital on 3rd January 2017. Read more about hime here .

Steve McManus started as the new CEO of Royal Berkshire Hospital on 3rd January 2017. Read more about hime here .

South Reading Patient Voice meets to consider and plan activities for 2017 on 25th January 2017.

Different Time and Place: NHS 57-59, Bath Road, Reading RG30 2BA at 16.45pm - 18.45pm

Please foregather in the reception area. For those driving please park as available in the large car parks at the front and back of the building. For those travelling from East or Central Reading by bus the 16.05pm 1 jetblack bus from stop EP on Blagrave Street just north of the junction with Valpy Street (a short time later from stop FP on the South side of Friar Street and stop CB alongside St Mary's churchyard in St Mary's Butts) takes you to a stop a few yards beyond NHS Bath Road. Please get in touch if you would like a lift.

The Office of National Statistics has just issued its latest bulletin on life expectancy by local authority area. This shows life expectancy for for men and women, taken across Reading as a whole, continuing to rise, although slowly. Figures taken from the bulletin show life expectancy at birth and at age 65 for males and females at different times:

Of course, these figures cannot take account of future changes in medicine or society but they sum up where we are today. Comparing with other local authorities in Berkshire we see for life expectancy at brith for 2012-14:

 Secondary care treatments, such as hip or knee replacements, cosmetic surgery or the insertion of ear grommets may be either "Not Routinely Funded" or "Funded Subject to Audit" or "Require Prior Approval" or be classified as Specialist treatment funded separately. The CCG adopts policies on these treatments which can all be found here .

Reading Healthwatch has reported that the re-commissioning of the 111 telephone service for the Thames Valley has taken an unexpected turn with the preferred provider, Care UK, withdrawing from the tendering process. The existing provider, South Central NHS Ambulance Foundation Trust, in alliance with primary care providers, is now the reserve bidder will probably be awarded the contract for the service from 1st April 2017.