1. Cost of living crisis

    Advice and Information -

    As the cost of living continues to increase, so has the pressure on peoples mental wellbeing.

  2. Enter and View Report - Bedford Hospital

    Report -

    Please see details below of Healthwatch Bedford Borough and Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire's visits to Bedford Hospital in July 2022.

  3. Flu vaccine: What you need to know

    Advice and Information -

    Not sure whether you’re eligible for a flu vaccine or how to get it? Read our frequently asked questions.

  4. Think you need to go to A&E? Learn how NHS 111 can help you

    Advice and Information -

    The NHS wants to make it easier and safer for patients to get the right treatment when they need it, without waiting a long time to be seen in A&E. Find out what this means for you and your loved ones.

  5. I'm pregnant. What happens next?

    Advice and Information -

    Becoming a parent can be a wonderful and exciting experience, but it can also be overwhelming. To help, we’ve broken down the pregnancy care you should expect from the NHS.

  6. Translating With Communities

    Advice and Information -

    To help communities who may be at higher risk, St John Ambulance have created a series of First Aid resources to help communities respond in an emergency.

  7. Money, work, housing and discrimination

    Advice and Information -

    Worrying about your financial situation, work issues or your housing situation can have a negative effect on your mental health. Acts of discrimination, from which everyone is protected by law, can also have a big impact.

  8. Fight Off Flu This Winter

    Advice and Information -

    Bedford Borough Council is encouraging residents to get their flu jab this winter.

  9. Bedford Borough Launches Healthy Workplace Standards

    News -

    Bedford Borough Council, in partnership with Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes City Councils, has launched a new set of health and wellbeing standards for local workplaces.

  10. GP practice data available for first time

    News -

    Patients will have better choice of what GP practice they visit after data showing appointment waiting times is published for the first time today.

  11. Press Release

    News -

    Please see latest press release relating to changes at Healthwatch Bedford Borough

  12. Warm Spaces

    Advice and Information -

    Please see details of the 'warm spaces initiative' currently active across Bedford Borough

  13. Strep A Infections Including Scarlet Fever

    Advice and Information -

    Strep A is a common type of bacteria. There are currently more Strep A infections than usual in our area - here is some helpful advice.

  14. Help with the cost of living

    Advice and Information -

    Bedford Borough Council understand that many residents may be struggling to cope with the rising cost of living, particularly with food and energy costs.

  15. NHS industrial action: Common questions and resources to help you

    Advice and Information -

    With NHS staff holding industrial action this winter, this resource aims to help you answer common questions and find out from NHS providers any likely impact in your area.

  16. Prevention is the best medicine - what to expect from your smear test

    Advice and Information -

    Cervical cancer screenings save at least 2,000 lives every year in the UK. Here's what you should expect from your smear test and why these screenings are important.

  17. Home Fire Safety Visit

    News -

    Be reassured in the home with a Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service Home Fire Safety Visit

  18. We are recruiting right now for new Advisory Board Members and for a Chair

    News -

    How often do you hear people share their stories of long waits for hospital appointments or short notice cancellations or difficulty in getting to see their GP? Then the really glowing stories where people feel the service they have received at a hospital or from their GP has been brilliant.

  19. Value of Community Nursing: Engagement with Patients, Carers and Families across the East of England

    News -

    To understand public perceptions on the value of community nursing, Community Nurse Fellows in the East of England commissioned local Healthwatch to engage with patients, families and carers about their experiences of accessing community nursing, the value of the service, and how it could be improved.

  20. Bedfordshire Autism want to hear from you

    News -

    Bedfordshire Autism want to hear about the challenges you face in healthcare, housing, benefits and more so that they can help improve services in Bedford Borough.

  21. New phone App to help Addenbrooke's and Rosie patients navigate hospital

    News -

    Patients have led the way in a project to make it easier to find your way around Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals.

    The new CUH Directions app was developed by patients for patients and was the idea of hospital volunteer Mike, a member of the Outpatient Experience Group, who led on the project with hospital staff.

  22. Joint Forward Plan Survey

    News -

    NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) is developing its Joint Forward Plan for how to deliver health and care services in the future.

  23. Have your say on accessing your GP practice in Bedford Borough

    News -

    Following on from responses to our recent Priority Survey, Healthwatch Bedford Borough are looking at access to GP practices locally.

  24. Autism Bedfordshire are looking for those living with Diabetes

    News -

    Autism Bedfordshire is looking for autistic adults with or without a learning disability, living with Type 2 Diabetes to be part of a new project with NHS diabetes service.

  25. Understanding GP Practice Staff Roles

    Advice and Information -

    Your #GeneralPracticeTeam is made up of a range of healthcare professionals who work at your practice and in the wider community to help you get the right care when you need it.

    Depending on your needs, you may be seen by a wider general practice team member.

    But who are they?

  26. Help shape local health & care services by joining our Advisory Board

    News -

    Healthwatch Bedford Borough is looking for people who are passionate about making a difference to health & care services to join its Advisory Board.

  27. New Stoma Prescription Service for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes

    News -

    A new Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Stoma Prescription Service is launching on 1 June 2023. The service is designed to enhance the care that people with a stoma receive when ordering their stoma products.
    The service is for anyone who has a stoma and is registered with a GP practice in the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes area. The new service will replace the Connect (LAMS) service in Luton. It will be a new type of service for Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.

  28. Bedfordshire’s CommUNITY Meditation Service

    News -

    LGBT Bedfordshire on behalf of Mary Seacole Housing Association have launched titled Bedfordshire’s CommUNITY Meditation Service, which has been set up to support victims of Hate Crime across Luton, Bedford and Central Bedfordshire. The service aims to reduce Hate Crime and increase the report rates across these three locations.

  29. Robotic assisted surgery to transform care at Bedfordshire Hospitals

    News -

    Bedford Hospital are extremely excited and proud to have launched their robotic assisted surgery programme at Bedfordshire Hospitals.

  30. NHS Bedfordshire Hospitals call for carers of inpatients to receive "Carer pack"

    News -

    Are you the carer of a person who is currently an inpatient at the hospital? Please speak to a member of staff on the ward to find out more about the Carer’s Pack.

  31. Rise in Measles

    News -

    The latest UKHSA health protection report data shows there has been a rise in measles cases.

  32. East of England Community Nursing Engagement Report

    Report -

    Community Nurse Fellows commissioned local Healthwatch across the East of England to engage with patients, carers and families about their views towards community nursing, and their experiences of accessing this service. 6 Local Healthwatch involved in this engagement included: Healthwatch Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough and Suffolk.

  33. Sickle Cell Patients set to benefit from quicker access

    News -

    Thousands of people are set to benefit from new hyperacute units providing specialist care.

  34. Healthwatch Bedford Borough Annual Report 2022/23

    Report -

    Healthwatch Bedford Borough is proud to announce we have published our Annual Report 2022/23, containing highlights from the past year and details of the year ahead.

  35. Enter and View Report - Bushmead Court

    Report -

    Please see details below of Healthwatch Bedford Borough visit to Bushmead Court in June 2023

  36. Enter and View Report - Waterloo House

    Report -

    Please see details below of Healthwatch Bedford Borough visit to Waterloo House in May 2023

  37. Enter and View Report - Lillibet Lodge Care Home

    Report -

    Please see details below of Healthwatch Bedford Borough visit to Lilibett Lodge in May 2023

  38. What is Healthwatch Bedford Borough?

    News -

    Healthwatch Bedford Borough are your local health and social care champions, but what does that mean?

  39. Register your decision to donate

    News -

    Organ Donation, the gift of life, you could save up to nine lives by confirming your decision to be on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

  40. Overnight Visiting reinstated on Maternity Units

    News -

    Bedfordshire Hospitals Reinstate overnight visiting in Maternity units.

  41. East of England Cancer Alliances: Let's talk about Cancer

    News -

    The East of England Cancer Alliance Patient Partnership Group would like to invite you to attend an online event.

  42. East England Cancer Alliances Want you to share your experiences

    News -

    Everyone who goes through a cancer diagnosis and treatment will experience it differently. Local people who have had cancer treatment or supported someone who has, are being invited to complete our online survey to share their experiences.