Rural homes ‘20% more expensive’

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cropped-7a8w9818.jpgBuying a house in the countryside costs 20% more than it does in a town or city, according to the latest figures.

Although a ‘rural premium’ exists across the country, rural homes are comparitively much more expensive in some areas than others, suggests the Halifax housing index.

The greatest difference is in the West Midlands where the average rural house price (£280,776) is 47% (£89,272) higher than in the region’s urban areas (£191,504).

The smallest difference is in the East of England, where there average premium on countryside homes drops to £27,765 (or 9%).

Property in rural areas is less affordable than in urban areas, with the property price in rural areas 7.6 times average annual earnings.

This compares to a ratio of 6.5 in urban areas.

All 10 of the least affordable rural local authority districts are in southern England, where North Dorset is the least affordable rural district with an average house price of £361,603.

This is 11.4 times local annual average earnings (£31,723).

The second least affordable area is Chichester with and average house price of £411,547 (10.8 times), followed by West Oxfordshire (9.9 times).

To read more on this article from the Rural Services Network please click here.

Taking The First Steps: An Introduction to Forming a Community Co-operative

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7th November 2017, 9.15am – 4pm, Worton Hall, Oxfordshire

Plunkett Foundation are organising a free event for anyone living in a rural community in the UK who wants to find out more about community co-operatives, why they work and the next steps to take. Whether you’re looking to save or open a shop, pub, woodland, renewable energy scheme, transport service, or anything else that your rural community needs, this event is a great way to find out more.

Download the agenda and book your FREE place at plunkettfoundation.eventbrite.co.uk

Warning that GP practices in rural areas are struggling to recruit doctors

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The Rural Services Network is encouraging people to sign a petition, warning that GP practices in rural areas are struggling to recruit doctors

Launched on 19 September, the petition calls on the government to put general practitioners on the Home Office’s ”shortage occupation list”.  At 10,000 signatures, the government will respond to the petition. At 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.
Started by Lincolnshire GP Ben Loryman, the petition says many rural surgeries facing recruitment difficulties, are being forced to close.  “There are many GPs from outside the EU who would like to work in the UK,” says the petition.  “However, practices can’t offer them a job without going though the visa bureaucracy, and the NHS is losing many good doctors as a result.”
The government has repeatedly warned that a shortage of rural GPs has left rural patients waiting weeks to see their local doctor.  The Rural Services Network is backing calls for government action to help recruit more GPs and other health professionals to work in the countryside.
Rural Services Network Chief Executive, Graham Biggs MBE said: “The situation is so bad that some rural patients are having to wait the best part of a month to see a doctor.”
Earlier this year, it emerged that a shortage of doctors meant patients in part of rural Lincolnshire must wait four weeks to see a GP.   Other rural communities are also suffering from a shortage of doctors.  In April, Dr David Davies, who works in rural West Somerset, said it was a struggle to recruit new staff with many current GPs approaching retirement.  Dr Davies said his surgery had spent more than a year trying to recruit a new GP but it had proved difficult to find someone who wanted to live and work in the area.
If you would like to sign the petition the link is here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200523

The petition will run until 19 March 2018

PUBLISHED: Berkshire Community Foundation’s Vital Sign’s Report

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website-banner-for-brighter-berkshire-pagesThe Berkshire Community Foundation’s (BCF) vital signs report is now out. As well as highlighting the vital work of the voluntary sector, with case studies on Sport in Mind and the Wokingham Mental Health Association, the 2017 Vital Signs Report highlights the worsening trends in mental health and increasing levels of homelessness in Berkshire. Please click here to read the report in full: report.

 

NHS Berkshire Health Network Update: September 2017

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Merger of the four Berkshire West CCGs
The NHS England South Merger Panel has reviewed the application by the Berkshire West CCGs to merge and agreed that there is compelling evidence that the merger would bring benefits to the NHS in the local area. The CCGs are expecting a final decision from NHS England by the end of October 2017.

If the merger is approved the new CCG will keep working closely with its localities to provide continued safe and high quality care that reflects the needs of the local areas.

*The Berkshire West CCGs are; Wokingham CCG, Newbury and District CCG, South Reading CCG and North and West Reading CCG.

Health Service Journal (HSJ) National Awards – shortlist success
The Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Groups are delighted to have been shortlisted for two Health Service Journal (HSJ) awards:

  • Category: Acute, Community and/or Primary Care Services Redesign
    Redesign of Community Spinal Services – an Integrated Pain and Spinal Service (IPASS)
  • Category: Enhancing Care by Sharing Data and Information
    Frimley Accountable Care System (ACS), West Berkshire ACS and South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (CSU), Connected Care: Intelligent, Personal, Data Driven Care
    See all the awards and those shortlisted here.
    The winners will be announced at an event in November.

Make sure you get your flu jab
The flu virus strikes in winter and it can be far more serious than you think. Flu can lead to serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia. That’s why the flu jab is free if you are aged 65 or over or have a long-term health condition. You are also eligible for a free jab if you are a carer, have young children or are pregnant.

Just speak to your GP or pharmacist. Further information is available from NHS Choices.

Also, don’t forget that if you’re aged 65 or over, you are eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine, which will help protect you from pneumococcal diseases such as pneumonia – find out more here.

NHS 111
People across the Thames Valley now have an improved NHS 111 free national telephone service to assess the level of care that someone needs and signpost them to an appropriate healthcare service. Callers will be assessed and provided with advice on their condition and if necessary who and where they need to seek further NHS healthcare services.

NHS England is rolling out Integrated Urgent Care across the country and the Thames Valley is one of the first in the country to get this new service. By calling 111, patients will have access to assessment from a range of trained call handlers and clinicians all day, every day, ensuring patients get the right care, first time.

Reading celebrates Older People’s Day – Monday 9 October
Reading is celebrating National Older People’s Day on Monday 9 October 2017 from 1 – 4pm with a fun-filled afternoon at the Rivermead Leisure Complex, Richfield Avenue, Reading, RG1 8EQ.

This free annual event celebrates the contribution to our communities by older people. The festivities kick off at 1pm with a welcome from the Mayor of Reading, Councillor Rose Williams, followed by a range of interactive activities throughout the day including guest speakers, song and dance, choirs, arts and crafts and discussion groups.
Further details are available here, including versions in Polish and Nepali.

World Mental Health Day – 10 October 2017
World Mental Health Day raises awareness of mental health issues around the world.
The theme this year is workplace mental health.

The Brighter Berkshire Team will be hosting or involved in a number of local events so please take a look at their events page for information.

Life and Death Matters – 10th October 2017
The Mortimer Surgery Patient Participation Group invites you to this special event on Tuesday 10th October from 10:30am – 1pm at Burghfield Community Sports Association, James Lane, Burghfield, R30 3RS.

There will be a range of speakers giving advice on many aspects of end of life planning including medical care, legal and financial matters, funeral care and community resources. If you’d like to attend, please email ppgmortimersurgery@gmail.com or call 0118 933 2436.

Stoptober is back!
Find the support you need to help you quit smoking. If you can give up for 28 days you’re five times more likely to be able to quit for good! Visit the Stoptober website for lots of information and advice from apps, face to face support and daily email support and messenger.
Watch the TV advert here.

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – forthcoming elections for Public Governors
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is the provider of community and mental health services across Berkshire. In Berkshire West, the Trust covers the local authority areas of West Berkshire, Reading and Wokingham.

They will shortly be holding elections for public governors in West Berkshire, Reading, Wokingham, Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead and Rest of England constituencies. You can find out more about becoming a governor here.

In order to stand for election as a governor or to vote in their governor elections, you need to join the trust as a member. As an NHS Foundation Trust they want to keep in touch with the public. You can join the Trust as a member with no cost or obligation and receive their newsletter and an invitation to attend the Trust’s annual members meeting. You can find more information about membership here and under the  ‘Get involved’ section on their website.

Electoral Reform Services (ERS) conduct our governor elections and members will shortly receive a letter from ERS inviting nominations to stand in the governor elections.

Your feedback and suggestions
The Berkshire West CCGs hope you have found this bulletin of interest. We’d welcome feedback and let us know if there is anything you’d be interesting in hearing more about.

Please email any feedback or suggestions to the Berkshire West CCGs’ Patient and Public Involvement team at ppiteam.berkshirewest@nhs.net