Brent Patient Voice , a sister organisation, has published a critique of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan of its area, North West London STP area. We might find that some of the criticisms put forward are applicable in our case, for example, excessive optimisim about possible savings and cost reductions, and double counting of savings at the STP and local authority level. However, our situation is very different from that in North West London. We don't have an excess of acute hospitals to close, although we know that our community hospitals will be subject to review. The Brent Patient Voice critique is an attached document below.

Reading Borough Council has taken the step of publishing the BOB/WeBOB/COBWeB STP five year plan (sustainability and transformation plan). They are seeking public responses to it via a survey found via the same link. A summary will appear here when available.

Simon Stevens, head of NHS England is inviting patients, carers and NHS staff to get involved in a national consultation on the proposed action to cut sales of sugary drinks on NHS premises as part of an effort to improve public health. Please use this link to get started.

The Berkshire West Primary Care Commissioning Committee meets in public at the Oakwood Centre, Woodley, RG5 4JZ on 7th December from 1pm to 4.30pm. To attend register using this link (or by phone 0300 123 6264) by 12 noon on the 6th December. 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 7th December 2016 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 6th December. Questions must be provided in advance - please email ppiteam.berkshirewest@nhs.net or phone to 0300123 6264.

There will be a public consultation meeting on Reading's second Health and Wellbeing Strategy in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Bridge Steet from 1pm to 4pm on Monday 21st November 2016. If intending to attend please notify Nina Crispin via email at Nina.Crispin@reading.gov.uk or via telephone on 0118 937 2383. The strategy is on the Reading Borough website . You can also use the online consultation .

Our next meeting will be at 6pm on Wednesday, 30th November 2016, when we will discuss the impact of the Five Year Transformation Plan on Reading. The meeting will be at 94, London Street, Reading RG1 4SJ. We will also discuss latest news from Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) at member surgeries and news from our CCG, Healthwatch and other local organisations involved in health and wellbeing.

Reading Borough has published a draft of its Second Health and Wellbeing Strategy covering 2017-2020 and is consulting residents on the strategy. The consultation closes on 11th December 2016. The strategy consists of 7 priorities drawn from the JSNA (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment).

1. Supporting people to make healthy lifestyle choices - dental care, reducing obesity, increasing physical activity, reducing smoking
2. Reducing loneliness and social isolation
3. Reducing the amount of alcohol people drink to safe levels
4. Promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in children and young people
5. Making Reading a place where people can live well with dementia
6. Increasing breast and bowel screening and prevention services
7. Reducing the number of people with tuberculosis

While it is good to see these positive priorities, the strategy does not explain what we will have to give lower priority to in order to advance these chosen priorities.

A recent report comissioned from Reading Healthwatch about people taking themselves to A&E shows that most people are not making the wrong decision in attending. Members of South Reading Patient Voice volunteered to help Reading Healthwatch complete the "Week in A&E" survey. The recent report shows that many patients had been recommended to attend A&E at RBH by another NHS service from which they had first sought help. The report made recommendations for improvement in the A&E waiting room and its management, for possible privision of X-ray facilities at the Reading Walk-In Centre and for better information for patients as to where to go in a medical emergency.

Despite a petition with over 2 million signatures, funding to pharmacies is to be reduced.v/ Cuts will fall hardest on the smaller pharmacies unless they are the only pharmacy for their community. Please see the attached document for further details.