Introducing our Health Inequalities Strategy for 2026–2031

We have published our new Five-Year Health Inequalities Strategy for 2026–2031, which sets out how we will work with people, communities and partners to help make care fairer, easier to access and more responsive to the needs of people across Berkshire. 

The strategy has been shaped by local data and insights gathered through conversations with communities. It builds on the work already taking place across our services and sets out a longer-term approach to reducing unfair and avoidable differences in access, experience and health outcomes.

Health inequalities can affect people in many different ways. They may mean someone has to wait longer for support, finds it harder to access a service, has a poorer experience of care, or is more likely to experience worse health outcomes because of factors such as deprivation, racism, disability, mental illness, language barriers or other circumstances outside their control. As a community and mental health Trust, we have an important role in helping to reduce these inequalities. Over the next five years, we will focus on areas where we can make the greatest difference, including mental health, children and families, community physical health, learning disabilities, perinatal services, diabetes, respiratory and cardiovascular care, and support for people with severe mental illness.

The strategy includes two flagship community-led projects in Reading and Slough. These will focus on men’s mental health in Reading and women’s and perinatal mental health in Slough, working with trusted community partners to support earlier conversations, improve health literacy and make it easier for people to get the right help at the right time.

A key part of the strategy is designing services with communities, not just for them. This means listening carefully, acting on what we hear, and working alongside patients, carers, families, colleagues, local authorities and voluntary sector partners to help shape services that are respectful, inclusive and accessible.

By working together, we want to reduce barriers to care and make a positive difference to people’s lives, especially for those who may face the greatest challenges in getting the support they need. You can read the strategy to find out more about our priorities and how we will work with communities and partners to make care across Berkshire more equitable, more inclusive and more responsive to the people we serve.