Find out how Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire can help you by watching this video
Our aim is to improve health and social care services in Central Bedfordshire.
To do this we need your feedback about local GP surgeries, hospitals, dentists, pharmacies, opticians, social care, emergency care and community based health teams. With this, we are able to inform, liaise, influence and, if necessary, challenge decisions and plans.
For all of this, we need your help!
Please help us by sharing your experiences of all or any of these services by clicking on the button below.
Tell us when things are going well and when they’re not, so we can do something about it.
Do You Use Community Health Services?
Since April 2018, Community Health Services across Bedfordshire have been delivered jointly by East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) and Cambridge Community Services (CSC).
Community Health Services cover ‘cradle-to-grave’ services that many of us take for granted. They provide a wide range of care, from supporting patients to manage their long-term conditions, to treating those who are seriously ill with complex conditions. Most community healthcare takes place in people’s homes. Teams of nurses and therapists co-ordinate care, working with other healthcare professionals.
Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire would like to hear about your experience of community health services; which service you accessed, promptness of service delivery and how you would rate your experience of the service.
Please take part in our short survey (this should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete) which closes at the end of November 2019, so please make sure your voice is heard. All responses will be anonymous.
Results of the survey will be shared with the providers and commissioners of Community Health Services, to ensure service improvement. Please click on the link to the survey below to take part:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PJX2DMX
If you would like to receive any further information or a hard copy of the survey, please contact Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire direct on 0300 303 8554 or by email to info@healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk. Alternatively, call the office on 0300 303 8554 and a member of staff will be happy to assist you to complete the survey.
Regarding health and care services, what is important to you?
About the campaign
A campaign to understand what is important to local people about the future of health and care services across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) has started with health and care organisations capturing the views of local people and staff across the region.
This is partly in response to the NHS Long-term Plan which was published earlier this year and sets out the priorities and ambitions for the NHS to meet the changing needs of the country’s growing population.
Want to speak to people regarding the campaign?
Over the next two months, teams will be talking to people and staff working in health and care services at public and staff events across BLMK.
As part of this campaign, a dedicated stand will be in shopping centres or large supermarkets in Bedford, Luton, Milton Keynes and Central Bedfordshire.
The remaining main dates and locations are:
Harpur Centre, Bedford, 8-10 August (Thursday to Saturday)
Centre MK, Milton Keynes, 12-14 September (Thursday to Saturday)
Leave your views online
If you would like to give your opinion online,
please click here to complete the survey.
To find out more, please visit https://www.blmkpartnership.co.uk/about/goodideas/
Our Young Healthwatch volunteers have been busy working on a number of projects since they came together almost a year ago. They have also recently received appropriate ‘Enter & View’ training and are keen to put their learning into practice by visiting health and social care services such as hospital wards, surgeries and care homes. The young people will then be able to report their findings from their unique perspective. If you would like a group of young Healthwatch volunteers to visit your service please contact Amy.Eymor@healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk.
There is a lot more information on the Young Healthwatch website, including the great achievement of one of our volunteers who has secured a fantastic apprenticeship with Cancer Research UK.
If you are under 25, why not consider becoming a member of Young Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire? Get in touch for more information.
Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire is on the road again.
Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire will be visiting an area near you to provide information, advice and guidance about local social care, health, housing and additional services. We will be joined by our partner organisations and local voluntary groups.
Please come along to find out more about the services available in your local area.
