Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire is currently seeking local business sponsors and community partners for the Festival for Older People 2026, due to be held on 2^nd October 2026 at The Rufus Centre in Flitwick.

Now in its 13th year, the Festival has become one of the largest and most well-established events celebrating older people across Bedfordshire. The event brings together hundreds of older residents, carers, families, health and care organisations, charities, volunteers, and local businesses for a day focused on wellbeing, inclusion, community connection, and support.

The 2025 Festival welcomed over 400 visitors from across Central Bedfordshire and neighbouring areas, alongside more than 47 organisations providing information, advice, health checks, wellbeing activities, entertainment, and community services. Take a look at our video from the event: https://youtu.be/jDdI2Scvk0o

As demand for the Festival continues to grow, sponsorship support is now more important than ever. Rising event costs mean that external funding and business sponsorship are essential to help keep the Festival free, accessible, and inclusive for local older residents.

Supporting the Festival offers businesses a valuable opportunity to:

• demonstrate commitment to the local community
• support older and vulnerable residents
• raise brand awareness with hundreds of attendees and partner organisations
• gain positive publicity across social media, printed materials, and event promotion
• strengthen local corporate social responsibility activity
• align with a respected and much-loved community event

Sponsorship contributions help fund:

• venue and accessibility costs
• transport for vulnerable attendees
• wellbeing and preventative health activities
• community engagement and entertainment
• event promotion and resources

The Festival for Older People is more than just an event, it helps reduce loneliness and isolation, improves access to support and health information, and creates meaningful community connections for older people across Bedfordshire.

If your business would be interested in becoming a sponsor or community partner for the Festival for Older People 2026, we would love to hear from you.

To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact:

info@healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk or directly via alison.newnham@healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk

Tel: 0300 303 8554

For more information about Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire visit: https://www.healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk/

Bedfordshire and Luton Recovery College are hosting the following courses:

• Movement for Wellbeing from April through till 12 August at 1.30pm-3.00pm
  Available at:
  Woburn Road, Bedford, MK40 1EG
• Let’s Talk Depression on 19 May at 10.30am-12.00pm
  Available at:
  Woburn Road, Bedford, MK40 1EG, Luton Central Library LU1 2NG and Online
• Let’s Talk Bereavement & Loss on 20 May at 1.00pm-3.00pm
  Available at:
  Woburn Road, Bedford, MK40 1EG and Online
• Let’s Talk Bereavement & Loss on 20 May at 1.00pm-3.00pm
  Available at:
  Woburn Road, Bedford, MK40 1EG and Online
• Three Calming Techniques for Anxiety on 21 May at 12.00pm-2.00pm
  Available at:
  Bedford, MK40 1EG, Luton Central Library LU1 2NG and Online

To book your place on any of these courses, enrol here.

You can also find out about other courses, here.

The NHS Modernisation Bill will change how patients and people who use social care services are listened to.

Under the proposed new law,  Healthwatch England’s responsibilities will move to the Department of Health and Social Care. Local Healthwatch roles will be absorbed by NHS Integrated Care Boards and local councils.

We don’t yet know when these changes will take place. The Department of Health and Social Care will provide more details as the legislation moves through Parliament.

What does this mean for the public?

For now, nothing is changing. We’re still your independent voice for health and social care, and we will keep:

• Listening to your experiences of care.
• Offering free, confidential advice and information to help you make the most of local services.
• Speaking up so NHS and social care providers know what’s working and what could be better.

Your voice matters. By sharing your feedback, you help improve support for everyone in your community.

What does this mean for our partners?

We value our strong relationships with partners and stakeholders. We will continue to share our evidence with you and work together to improve NHS and social care support.

What happens next?

We’ll keep you updated as soon as we know when any new law will come into force and the work of Healthwatch will end.

We would like to share that Pippa Nightingale MBE will become the new CEO of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from August 2026.

Pippa Nightingale MBE

Pippa brings more than 25 years of NHS leadership experience and is currently Chief Executive at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, where she has led major improvements and service changes across a large and diverse population.

The Trust says she’ll be joining a strong executive team that has already delivered stability, good operational performance and major investment programmes across both hospital sites.

With current CEO David Carter stepping down on 8 May, Deputy Chief Executive Cathy Jones will take on the role of interim CEO until Pippa starts in August, helping ensure a smooth handover and continuity across the Trust.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has just published it’s report on The Limes Care Home, Henlow.

The CQC carried out the latest inspection on 24 February 2026 and found that The Limes Care Home in Henlow, is performing well and meeting their expectations. The report was published on 30 April 2026.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has just published it’s report on Thorn Springs Care Home, Houghton Regis.

The CQC carried out the latest inspection on 11 February 2026 and found that Thorn Springs Care Home in Houghton Regis, is performing well and meeting their expectations. The report was published on 22 April 2026.

A personal and reflective account from Alan, volunteer and Director, Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire

In early 2023 I was given cause to seek an assessment for Autism via my GP. The referral was sent to Adult Autism Assessment Service in Bedford shortly after, and within a few days I was sent some questionnaire forms to fill in online.

I heard no more until September 2023 when I was invited to a Phase 1 assessment in Dunstable, and I was advised that there was more than enough to proceed to a Phase 2 assessment. After that everything went into slow motion, and the timescale kept being put further away, and I was told the wait time was up to 3.5 years for the Phase 2.

Fast forward to March 2026, when I called the Adult Autism Assessment Service again, and I was advised of the Right to Choose service, where I contact my GP and they make that referral. I had a telephone conversation with my GP, and while on the phone he looked up the Right to Choose providers, and chose the one with the shortest waiting list, and that referral went within a couple of days. A few days later I got a 4 part online questionnaire which I completed straight away, and was advised that the next step would be about 5 weeks away.

I called them at the 5 week point, and I was given an appointment for a Phase 1 assessment the next week. After that two hour assessment I was told that I should hear about the Phase 2 assessment within 2 weeks. A week later I received an email with a link to book the Phase 2 assessment, and I chose the one a 2pm that day. The appointment lasted an hour with some probing questions, and observations while online. At the end of the hour I was informed that I was indeed Autistic, and the whole process was completed in around 6 weeks.

The message here is that if you are awaiting an assessment via the NHS, ask your GP to refer you via the Right to Choose service, it is a lot faster, and will take some of the load from the NHS option as they remove you from their waiting list after you inform them of the outcome of the Right to Choose pathway.

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As you can see from Alan’s experience, the service he received was one that made him feel reassured and heard. 

Right to Choose – Information for Patients (Central Bedfordshire)

As part of the Autism and ADHD assessment pathway, many patients choose to use the Right to Choose option. This allows you to have more choice and flexibility in where you are assessed.

Under Right to Choose, you can select from a range of approved providers, including some independent (private) organisations, to carry out your assessment at no cost to you.

However, it is important to be aware of the following:

• If you are diagnosed and require medication, NHS prescriptions are only routinely supported through Psychiatry UK in our area.
• If you choose a different provider, you may still receive your assessment free of charge, but any medication prescribed by that provider may need to be paid for privately.

We recommend considering this carefully when choosing your provider, particularly if you feel medication may be part of your treatment.

If you would like support in choosing a provider or understanding your options, please contact the practice.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has just published it’s report on Dr Jinmi & Partners, otherwise known as Houghton Regis Medical Centre.

The CQC carried out their inspection on 3 November 2025 and found that Dr Jinmi & Partners failed to meet the regulations relating to safeguarding, safe care and treatment, and governance.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has just published it’s report on Elm Lodge Nursing and Residential Home in Leighton Buzzard.

The CQC carried out their inspection on 4 December 2025 and found that Elm Lodge Nursing and Residential Home failed to meet the regulations relating to safeguarding, safe care and treatment, and the leadership being inadequate.