A new health 'watchdog' service will be taking over across the Slough, Windsor, Maidenhead and Bracknell area - after the three local authorities joined forces.

Slough Borough Council, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and Bracknell Forest Council made the decision last year to jointly commission a single Local Healthwatch Service across East Berkshire when their own councils' individual contracts had expired.

Healthwatch bodies act as a watchdog responding to peoples' complaints about health services, while also acting as a receptacle for ideas and potential health campaigns initiated by the public.

Having agreed to share a joint Healthwatch service the three local authorities held a competitive tender process and the new contract has been awarded to Help & Care, which currently provides the Healthwatch service in Slough.

But the three areas will still keep their separate identities as Healthwatch Bracknell Forest, Healthwatch Slough and Healthwatch Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead while retaining individual work plans reflecting the needs of their distinctive local communities.

Alan Sinclair, Slough Borough Council’s Director of Adults & Communities, said: “We are really pleased to be working alongside our colleagues from Bracknell Forest Council and RBWM in awarding the contract to Help & Care. Healthwatch provides a critical voice for people who use health and social care services, which is an extremely important service for our residents.”

Mark Sharman, Chief Executive of Help & Care, said; "We look forward to working with residents and healthcare providers across East Berkshire as well as current boards and volunteers.”

The new Healthwatch East Berkshire service delivered by Help & Care will start on January 4.