Good Housekeeping Leads to Better Health Care Services
NHS Berkshire West will be looking back on twelve months of achievements at its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 8th September, Reading Walk-in Health Centre, Broad Street Mall, Reading (2pm-3.30pm). The AGM will reveal how the primary care trust has successfully managed the budget to improve health outcomes for the people of Wokingham, Reading and West Berkshire.
Charles Waddicor, Chief Executive, NHS Berkshire West, said: ‘Prudent financial management has allowed us to reinvest in health care provision with the aim to provide services that are high quality, cost effective and meet the needs of patients. The new Reading Walk-in Health Centre, the expansion of cardiovascular health checks and moves to tackle obesity demonstrate that we are truly world class commissioners.’
He added: ‘Staff have again shown dedication and commitment over the past twelve months in helping us to provide better health care service. This has led to increased dental access, a reduction in the number of smokers and unplanned teenage pregnancies, and keeping hospitals in Berkshire West clean and safe. The recent World Class Commissioning results placed NHS Berkshire West in the top 10 PCTs in the country and in first place in the South Central region.’
NHS Berkshire West will also showcase how it keeps people well and out of hospital through the “Choose Well Journey” exhibition on the same day from 12pm till 4pm in the Central Square at Broad Street Mall Shopping Centre, Reading.
The “Choose Well Journey” encourages patients to think about the right place to go to when they need to access NHS services. Each aspect of the “Choose Well Journey” and the health services available will be represented, from Accident and Emergency paramedics and out of hours GP services, to pharmacies and how to keep a well stocked medicine cabinet.
In addition, visitors to the exhibition in Broad Street Mall will be able to get their blood pressure, pulse and Body Mass Index checked and join the Health Network and parents will be able to chat about childhood immunisations whilst their children have their faces painted. There will be a ‘smoothie bike’, which produces refreshing drinks but only after people have put the cycling effort in and the Eat 4 Health team will be showing people how they can make a more long term commitment to improving their health and well being.
The “Choose Well Journey” exhibition in the Broad Street Mall shopping area is completely free and the PCT hope that members of the public will take the opportunity to come along and ask questions and find out more about services. However, places at the formal business Annual General Meeting upstairs at the Walk-in Health Centre are limited and it’s best to reserve a place in advance by contacting Steph Bennett tel: 0118 982 2705 email: steph.bennett@berkshire.nhs.uk. Copies of the Annual Report will be available at both the AGM and the “Choose Well Journey” exhibition as well as the PCT’s website www.berkshirewest-pct.nhs.uk