As a county Berkshire has an increasing older population with the inevitable growing demand for elderly care services.
Fortunately the county is served well by health and social care. However, this provision is organised along NHS and local council boundaries, which can make services difficult to find and navigate.
This article outlines what care is available in the county and how to access it.
- NHS Services for the Elderly in Berkshire
- Local Authority Elderly Care Services in Berkshire
- Booking a Care Needs Assessment in Berkshire
- Specialist Mental Health Services for the Elderly in Berkshire
NHS Services for the Elderly in Berkshire
The Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is a major trust providing a full range of health services to the people of Berkshire.
Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)
CCGs commission most of the hospital and community NHS services in the local areas for which they are responsible. Commissioning involves deciding what services are needed by the local population and ensuring that they are provided. All GP practices and nursing teams belong to an overarching CCG.
In Berkshire there are two CCGs:
- Berkshire East CCG (Ascot, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Slough and Windsor)
- Berkshire West CCG (Reading, Newbury, and Wokingham)
To locate your nearest GP, you can enter your postcode on the NHS website.
Hospitals
In Berkshire, there are two major hospitals with an A&E department: Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading and Wexham Park Hospital in Slough.
The county is also home to the following NHS hospitals, providing a specialist service:
| Hospital | Specialist Services |
|---|---|
| Bracknell Healthspace | Cancer care and outpatient clinics |
| Prince Charles Eye Unit, Windsor | Ophthalmology |
| Townlands Memorial Hospital, Henley | X-rays, Minor Injuries Unit and outpatient referrals |
| West Berkshire Community Hospital, Thatcham | Range of wards and services |
| Windsor Dialysis unit | Chronic kidney disease |
Hospices
In Berkshire, the Sue Ryder palliative team offers a range of services from three sites: Duchess of Kent Hospice, Wokingham Day Hospice and Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub Berkshire.
Please find more information about hospice services in the county on our dedicated guide to palliative care in Berkshire.
Local Authority Elderly Care Services in Berkshire
Berkshire is split up into six local councils, each providing their own care services. You can find your local council’s health and social care website below.
- Bracknell Forest Borough Council
- Reading Borough Council
- Slough Borough Council
- West Berkshire District Council
- Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough Council
- Wokingham District Council
Booking a Care Needs Assessment in Berkshire
A Care Needs Assessment establishes how much care someone needs and how much of this can be provided by the council.
To arrange a Care Needs Assessment, you will need to contact your local council. Please find all information on our dedicated page: how to book a care needs assessment in Berkshire.
Specialist Mental Health Services for the Elderly in Berkshire
The Berkshire Foundation NHS Trust facilitates the Older People’s Mental Health Service.
The team offer mental health assessments, diagnosis, and on-going care to help with mental health conditions, including:
- Dementia
- Depression
- Psychosis
- Severe anxiety
The Older People’s Mental Heath Service generally work with people who are over the age of 75 but, in some cases they work with younger people too.
The service can be accessed through speaking to your GP or through referral by another NHS service.
We also have an Age Space guide regarding dementia care services in Berkshire.
