1. 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.

  2. Life changes

    Advice and Information -

    Life's always changing, but sometimes we face a big or sudden change that is harder to deal with, whether it's moving home, starting university, having a baby or starting to care for someone.

  3. Fight Off Flu This Winter

    Advice and Information -

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

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Press Release

    News -

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

  7. Warm Spaces

    Advice and Information -

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

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. Looking after your health during the Cost of Living crisis

    Advice and Information -

    The continuing cost of living crisis is adversely affecting people's physical and mental wellbeing, with vulnerable people and those on lower incomes hit the hardest.

  13. Exam stress – for 11-18 year olds

    Advice and Information -

    Information for 11-18 year olds on exam stress, with advice on how to cope and where to go for support.

  14. Coping while caring for someone else

    Advice and Information -

    If you care for another person, it can feel difficult to take time to look after yourself. On this page, we direct you to our information about experiences of caring, tips for your own mental health and where to find support.

  15. Home Fire Safety Visit

    News -

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

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

  18. The Chameleon Magazine

    News -

    Please see an exciting new magazine created by service users from the Bedfordshire and Luton CAHMS

  19. 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.

  20. 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.

  21. Sue Ryder Grief Kind Space opens in Moggerhanger following Milton Ernest success

    News -

    More Bedfordshire residents will be able to access free, informal peer-to-peer bereavement support from Wednesday 26 April, when Sue Ryder launches its brand-new Grief Kind Space in Moggerhanger.

  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. Healthwatch Bedford Borough are recruiting a new Chair.

    News -

    Do you want to help shape health and social care services in Bedford Borough. Do you have the skills and experience to become our next Chair? The role attracts an honorarium of £3000 p.a. in recognition of your time commitment.

  28. 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.

  29. 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.

  30. COVID-19 Spring vaccination due to end by 30 June 2023

    News -

    COVID-19 Spring vaccinations are due to end by 30 June 2023. You can still get yours.
    Read on to see if you are eligible

  31. 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.

  32. CQC rates Right at Home Bedford outstanding

    News -

    Right at Home Bedford, a home care service in Kempston, Bedford, has been rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), following an inspection undertaken in February and March.

  33. Mind BLMK launches its Young Person’s Sanctuary in Bedford

    News -

    Mental Health Crisis Support for 14-17yrs
    As the leading Mental Health charity across Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes providing a range of different services in the support of mental health, we are committed to ensuring that no one has to experience a Mental Health Problem alone.

  34. 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.

  35. Rise in Measles

    News -

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

  36. Healthwatch Bedford Borough Work Programme 2023-2024

    Report -

    As Healthwatch Bedford Borough, we will give critical challenge to highlight where improvements can be made, be the voice of the public, show the impact our work can make and work hard to listen to people throughout the Borough.

  37. Healthwatch Bedford Borough work programme 2023-2024

    News -

    Each year, Healthwatch Bedford Borough puts together a work programme that reflects the health and social care needs of the area.

  38. Healthwatch Bedford Borough Listening Survey Report

    Report -

    Healthwatch Bedford Borough is the local, independent voice for the public in health and social care services. One of the ways that we fulfil our role is to carry out focused projects each year and develop our annual workplan based upon public priorities.

  39. CAMHSTalks: Exam Stress during exam season

    News -

    A series of interviews and discussions brought to you jointly by the Luton and Bedfordshire Service User Participation Group and the Luton and Bedford CAMHS Team. Both are part of the East London NHS Foundation Trust

  40. 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.

  41. Healthwatch Bedford Borough Newsletter: June 2023

    Newsletter -

    The latest news and information from Healthwatch Bedford Borough

  42. Sickle Cell Patients set to benefit from quicker access

    News -

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

  43. 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.

  44. Enter and View Report - Bushmead Court

    Report -

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

  45. Enter and View Report - Waterloo House

    Report -

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