Being discharged from hospital should be a safe and well-planned process, with the right support in place for people returning home or moving into other care.

Have you or someone you care for had a difficult experience when being discharged from hospital? Did you or a loved one spend longer in hospital than necessary, experience delays, or feel you weren’t given the information or support you needed?

If so, Healthwatch England wants to hear about your experience.

By understanding what happened, we can identify where things are working well and where improvements are needed to make hospital discharge better for everyone.

Take the survey and tell us your story.

The survey takes around 10-15 minutes, and anything you share will be treated confidentially.

The post Your hospital experience matters – have your say! appeared first on Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire.

All courses are face-to-face at Luton All Women’s Centre and are for women only.

If you, or someone you know, may be interested in attending, please contact Louise at louise@lawc.org.uk to arrange an initial registration and secure a place.

You can also find full details of the available courses on the Luton All Women’s Centre website:
Women’s Academy – Luton All Women’s Centre.

Places may be limited, so early registration is recommended.

The post Upcoming courses at Luton All Women’s Centre appeared first on Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire.

The NHS East London Foundation Trust and the Bedfordshire and Luton Recovery College have a new workshop starting this month: Exploring Art Therapy.
The courses are all FREE and open to anyone.

If you are interested, registered with the Bedfordshire and Luton Recovery College, and would like to attend, you can email them at elft.recoverycollege@nhs.net to book your place.

If you are not registered and would like to attend, you can complete the form by clicking this link to submit. submit it to us. Once received, the college will book you a place, and you will receive confirmation with all the details.

The post Exploring Art Therapy – Bedfordshire and Luton Recovery College appeared first on Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire.

Healthwatch has explored people’s experiences and highlights what needs to change to make health and care services safer, more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Read the full Healthwatch England article: Are we failing people with sight loss in healthcare?

The post Healthwatch England – Are we failing people with sight loss in healthcare? appeared first on Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire.

September is World Alzheimer’s Month – a time to raise awareness of dementia, challenge misconceptions and highlight the support available to people living with dementia, their families and carers.

It’s such an important focus to ensure that those affected are living well with dementia, staying connected and making sure their voices are heard.

Dementia can affect people in different ways, and a diagnosis can bring many questions and concerns. Finding the right information and support can make a real difference – whether you are living with dementia yourself, caring for someone, or supporting a family member or friend.

Living with dementia does not mean giving up the things that matter to you.

Keeping in touch with family and friends, taking part in activities, meeting other people and staying involved in your local community can all help people maintain a sense of connection and independence.

Support is available in Central Bedfordshire

Tibbs Dementia Foundation provides dementia support in Central Bedfordshire and is the first port of call for people affected by dementia or memory loss in the area. Its support includes practical, financial and emotional support, befriending, access to a dementia nurse, carers’ grants and local groups.

Carers in Bedfordshire supports people living with dementia and those caring for someone with dementia.

Its Dementia Services include:

• One-to-one support to understand your situation and find the right support.
• Workshops, events and groups, including support and social groups and Carers Hubs.
• Dementia befriending for people with dementia and their carers.
• Practical support, including information about arranging care, home adaptations, financial advice, emergency planning and taking a break.
• Wellbeing support for carers, including one-to-one sessions and online resources.

Don’t forget about Carers

Dementia can affect the whole family, and caring for someone can sometimes feel overwhelming.

If you are caring for someone with dementia, it is important to look after your own health and wellbeing too. Remember that, as a Carer, your voice matters. We hold Community Partnership Groups, with our Carers’ event being on Wednesday 16th September, 11am-1pm, at the Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick MK45 1AH.

Find out more, here.

Your experience matters

At Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to have their voice heard when using health and care services.

If you, a family member or someone you care for has experience of dementia services, we want to hear about it.

Your experiences – both positive and negative – can help us understand what is working well and where improvements may be needed.

Share your experience with Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire.

World Alzheimer’s Day – 21st September

World Alzheimer’s Day takes place on 21st September, providing an opportunity to raise awareness of dementia and show support for people affected by it.

This World Alzheimer’s Month, let’s help create communities where people living with dementia feel heard, included, supported and connected.

Find out more

For further information and advice about dementia:

• Tibbs Dementia Foundation – local support for people affected by dementia and memory loss in Central Bedfordshire.
• Alzheimer’s Society – information, advice and support for people affected by dementia.
• Central Bedfordshire Council – information about local dementia and carer support.
• Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire – share your experiences of health and care services with us.

Remember, asking for support is a positive step, and you don’t have to navigate dementia alone.

The post World Alzheimer’s Month 2026: Living Well with Dementia appeared first on Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire.

The project brought together partners from the health, employment, voluntary, community and public sectors, with a focus on understanding local needs, identifying gaps in support and strengthening connections between services.

Through engagement across Bedfordshire – including Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough, Luton and Milton Keynes – as well as Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, valuable insights were gathered about the challenges people experience when seeking employment or trying to stay in work.

What did we hear?

The mapping highlighted a range of barriers, with health conditions identified as the biggest employment barrier, followed by skills, digital skills, personal and family circumstances and communication difficulties.

The findings also highlighted specific challenges relating to:

• Health: mental health conditions, learning and developmental disabilities, multiple health conditions, addiction-related issues and musculoskeletal conditions.
• Skills: work-related skills, communication and interpersonal skills, digital skills, qualifications and licences, and language barriers.
• Digital inclusion: non-user-friendly applications, low digital skills, lack of confidence or trust, and disability-related challenges.

These findings provide a valuable picture of the experiences and barriers within our communities and highlight opportunities to improve joined-up support, access to services and pathways into sustainable employment.

This has been a truly collaborative piece of work, and we are grateful to everyone who shared their time, knowledge and lived experience, as well as the organisations that supported the engagement.

Read the WorkWell findings

A WorkWell newsletter and summary of key insights have been produced, providing an overview of the voices heard, needs identified and gaps and opportunities highlighted throughout the mapping exercise. You can read this below:

The post WorkWell mapping exercise highlights key employment barriers across the region appeared first on Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire.

CVS have announced that they have appointed a current Senior Advisor, David Brewer, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

This marks an exciting new chapter for CVS Bedfordshire, as David takes on this brand new role, whilst continuing to bring his experience and commitment to supporting CVS’ vision and work across the county.

David has said: “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to lead CVS Bedfordshire. There are many challenges ahead but I hope to build on my five years working with the organisation to secure a positive future and further enhance our reputation.”

In his spare time David enjoys travelling and competing in endurance races around the world. A recent highlight was Comrades ultra marathon in South Africa. And he is next taking on Hyrox Valencia.

The post CVS Bedfordshire appoints new CEO appeared first on Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire.

Understanding the experiences of people who support or care for those affected by cancer.

Caring for someone with cancer can be challenging, exhausting and often invisible.

Many people in a Carers position may not even see themselves as a Carer – just a good partner or spouse, parent, child, or friend. But when these responsibilities become ongoing and essential to someone else’s daily wellbeing that is caring.

To be able to recognise and support Carers better, the East of England Cancer Alliance are asking people to share their experiences via this survey.

The survey will be open until the end of October 2026.

Your experience feedback will be used to help improve local services, shape future support, and make sure carers are better recognised, listened to and supported.

Answers will be anonymous and kept confidential.

Every response matters.

Find out more on the East of England Cancer Alliance’s dedicated webpage: Cancer Carers Survey: East of England Cancer Alliance

The post Cancer Carer’s Survey appeared first on Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire.

Following a busy couple of months at Bloomin’ Well CIC, they now have some fantastic upcoming events to also look forward to and celebrate.

Here’s what’s been happening and what’s coming up next.

🌻 Open Day – Saturday 5th September 2026, 12pm-2pm

Join the team at the gardens for their Open Day, to celebrate all their achievements so far!

One highlight being their new wildlife pond.

There’ll be something for everyone, and lots of fun to be had.

Don’t miss out. Pop along and say hello!

💚 Wednesday Sessions – Referrals Now Open

If you would like more information or would like to make a referral, please get in touch with Bloomin’ Well CIC.

🧠 Bloomin’ Well Pub Quiz – Friday 11th September 2026

7pm for a 7.30pm start
The Cross Keys, Pulloxhill

Get your team together for a great night out in support of Bloomin’ Well CIC.

Teams can have a maximum of four people.

£20 per person, including a meal on the night.

There will also be a raffle and prizes to be won!

To book your team, please contact Bev or Sandy on 07468 121504 | bloominwellcic@gmail.com

About Bloomin’ Well CIC

Bloomin’ Well CIC is a non-profit organisation working with adults with mental health challenges, who are neurodiverse and/or have learning difficulties.

We create welcoming, supportive spaces and meaningful activities that promote wellbeing, inclusion and connection with nature.

From gardening and outdoor activities to creative projects and social opportunities, Bloomin’ Well CIC provides a space where people can connect, learn and grow together.

The post Bloomin’ Well CIC – upcoming events appeared first on Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire.

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