Health News

The creation of one single clinical commissioning group covering Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes, has been heavily criticised by local councillors for taking decision-making away from local people.

Those attacks continued at the joint annual meeting of three dying organisations which are being glued together to form the new body that holds the purse strings for hospital and community health services.

A Bedfordshire family has taken on a Walk of Hope, inspired by their daughter who was diagnosed aged 13 with a brain tumour, to raise funds to help find a cure for the disease.

Caroline Watson of Cranfield, now 26, was diagnosed with a brain tumour on her pituitary gland after her mother finally managed to persuade doctors to take her worrying weight gain and growth seriously.

Along with her parents, Lisa and Mark, and partner Jack Mizen, Caroline walked 10 miles from Flitwick, where her mum and dad live, to the ruins of Houghton House in Ampthill and back

Many people living in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes will soon be hearing from their GP practice inviting them to have a free flu jab.

Invitations are being sent to those who are considered to be most at risk from serious complications of catching the flu

New parents are being invited to have their say on what support they need, and how it is best delivered. The goal is to ensure that every baby is given the best start in life, no matter what their circumstances.

A new review into improving the healthy development of infants was launched by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in July. Its aim is to break down the barriers that can impact on early years development and level up the opportunities given to every newborn.

Led by Early Years Healthy Development Adviser Andrea Leadsom MP, the review will focus on improving the support available to babies and their families in the period from conception to age two, often referred to as the 1,001 critical days.

New parents, health service professionals, charities and volunteer groups are being asked to share their views to help shape the outcome of the review, by completing an online questionnaire

The public is asked not to call NHS 111, visit their GP, pharmacy or A&E if they need a COVID test. The only way to access a test is via the national system online or over the phone.

A meeting also heard yesterday (Monday, 14 September 2020) that the hospital is on the brink of making gentle changes to visitor arrangement in maternity.

David Carter, the chief executive of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Liz Lees, the chief nurse, appeared at Bedford Borough Council’s health overview and scrutiny committee to update councillors on how the hospital is coping.

For the first time the organisations responsible for commissioning NHS services across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes will hold a joint Annual General Meeting.

The meeting will be held virtually on 29 September from 5:30 – 7:15pm and members of the public are invited to attend and it gives them the opportunity to any questions they have about health services locally.

Central Bedfordshire residents are invited to join in a celebration linked to International Day of Older Persons.

Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire (HWCB) is hosting the Festival for Older People (FOP) during the week 28th September to 2nd October. The Festival is now in its 9th year, and this year it will be delivered via virtual recordings, live streams and by dial-in calls – a first for many of us.

Talks with local authorities over proposals to merge the Luton, Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have been labelled “a sham consultation” and “a fait accompli”.

A report on the one BLMK CCG programme was presented to a meeting of Luton Borough Council’s scrutiny health and social care review group.