Invitation to next Medical Lecture 21 October, “With the End in Mind” A discussion about what we might want end-of-life care to look like
Invitation to Annual Members’ Meeting –17 September
Operational update
Bedford Hospital – Elective Care Centre
L&D Hospital – Community Diagnostic Centre
Martha’s Rule rolled out across Bedfordshire Hospitals
Bedford residents invited for lung cancer screening
New kidney stone procedure introduced at the L&D
Come and volunteer with us!
Staff celebration and engagement
welcome to ambassador
Ambassador is our way of communicating with you, our Trust members. We want to ensure that we keep you up to date with developments at the Trust and how you can get involved. We now have more than 26,000 members and we are keen for as many of you as possible to play an active role in shaping how the Trust is managed and developed for the future.
Contents
3. Chair’s Message
4. Operational update
5. Five Years On: Reflecting on the BedsFT Merger
6. Redevelopment Update
6. Daring Descent: Local heroes to abseil down new Acute Services Block at the L&D
11. Martha’s Rule rolled out across Bedfordshire Hospitals
11. Bedford residents invited for lung cancer screening
12. New Therapy Assessment Suite opens for patients at Bedford Hospital
12. NHS Retirement Fellowship
13. Diabetic Eye screening programme expands to new sites in BLMK
13. New kidney stone procedure introduced at the L&D
14. Charity round-up
15. Come and volunteer with us!
16. Staff Celebration Days
18. Staff summer engagement events
20. Diary Dates: Next Annual Members’ Meeting:17 September 2025 –Next Medical Lecture:21 October 2025
20. Your governors
We hope you enjoy our Membership Magazine. If your name or address is incorrect, or the person to whom we have sent this magazine no longer lives at the address mentioned in the address label please let us know by emailing us at:FTMembership@bedsft.nhs.uk. If you have already informed the hospital of any changes but we have not updated our Membership database please accept our apologies – this is because our Membership database is not linked to the Patient database.
Dear Members
Dear Members,
Where does time go? It has been five years since Bedfordshire’s two hospitals merged in April 2020. Find out what this has meant for both hospitals on page 5.
Development of new services continues; there is a new Therapy Assessment Suite on the Bedford site (page 12) and the Trust is now able to offer a minimally invasive kidney stone procedure at the L&D. This should aid faster recovery for those affected (page 13).
Martha’s Rule has been successfully rolled out trust-wide, and you can read more on page 11.
In the wider community, BLMK are offering new sites for Diabetic Eye Screening (page 13), and the Lung Cancer Screening Programme is being extended to include at risk Bedford residents (page 11). If you are invited to one of these screening programs, please do attend as detecting diseases at an earlier stage makes for better outcomes.
The Hospitals Charity teams are busy at the moment, and details of the Charity Dinner and Christmas events as well as the L&D’s Abseiling Challenge can be found on pages 14 and 10.
Staff Summer Engagement Events were once again held on both sites, see page 18.
The Annual Members Meeting will be held on 17 September in Bedford – remember this is your opportunity to have your say.
The next Medical Lecture 'With the End in Mind' will be held on 21 October in Luton when there will be a discussion about what we might want end-of-life care to look like. Further details of both these events can be found on page 20.
With best wishes
Dr Jacquie Farhoud Public Governor and Chair of the Membership & Communications Committee
If you would like to receive an electronic copy of the Ambassador in the future please send your email address to FTMembership@bedsft.nhs.uk
Contact us:
The Foundation Trust Membership Department Email: FTmembership@bedsft.nhs.uk
Post: Membership Dept – Nova House, Luton & Dunstable University Hospital, Lewsey Road, Luton LU4 0DZ Governors can be contacted by email at Governors@bedsft.nhs.uk or write to the Membership Department as above. This publication is produced by the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Membership Department
Chair’s Message
Dear Members
The Ten-Year Health Plan for the NHS was finally produced at the beginning of July. The principles it endorsed were heralded well in advance – what is called the left shift –from acute to community, from analogue to digital and from illness to ill health prevention. All of these aims we should endorse.
The shift from acute to community is welcome. Far too many people come to our emergency departments as a first port of call rather than the last one and our hospitals are often clogged up. There are also often many different institutions involved in individuals’ care pathways, something that patients find difficult to navigate. We believe in integrated care so that patients can navigate their health services much more easily. The government proposes the establishment of neighbourhood health centres as well as Integrated Health Organisations and we shall need to develop our own strategies to contribute to what will be evolving ways of implementing this part of the Plan. What we must remember in the discussions and debates is that our hospitals are part of our communities, not separate from them.
The government in the second ‘left shift’ is putting a significant emphasis on the NHS App and its broadening scope as well as patient access to it. Threaded through the whole of the plan is the developing use of AI and its growing significance in the years ahead. These will give patients more control over their own health needs and services they require.
The government in the second ‘left shift’ is putting a significant emphasis on the NHS App and its broadening scope as well as patient access to it. Threaded through the whole of the plan is the developing use of AI and its growing significance in the years ahead. ”
Last but not least is the move to ill health prevention. This is probably the area in which we have least direct involvement but is very important in people maintaining good health for longer. We can, though, and must play a part alongside our local authorities and voluntary and community sectors. What is essential is finding ways to make inroads into our poorer communities who have less access to health services and less ability to improve their personal health through, for example, better diets and more exercise.
Hospitals will change over the next few years, and we shall forge new partnerships with other health providers but there are many challenges ahead. The ten-year plan does not yet have a chapter on implementation, it says nothing about social care and takes little account of the finances needed to put into effect the changes needed. Just as it’s been published, we are again getting ourselves into tricky industrial relations waters with strikes back on the table.
But change we must over the next few years. So, together, we must meet the challenges there are to retain the best possible NHS we can fit for purpose in our changing world.
Kind regards Richard Sumray
Operational update
By David Carter, Chief Executive and Cathy Jones, Chief Operating Officer/Deputy Chief Executive
Preparing for winter
Planning is already underway to prepare for the winter. Working with our partners across the region and also internally, we are looking to improve the way we work across our hospitals, particularly around our discharge processes to ensure no patient has to be in hospital for longer than they need to.
Delays in discharge can sometimes be down to external factors and blockages in pathways outside the hospital. But there is more we can do to mitigate this.
One of our key priorities is improving patient flow through our hospitals, so we can deliver safe, high-quality care and meet our commitment to see, treat, admit or discharge at least 78% of patients attending our Emergency Departments (ED) within 4-hours
To help improve flow, reduce late discharges and enhance the patient experience we have introduced a new cut-off time of 3.30pm for all inpatient discharge prescription requests to be handed to our pharmacy teams.
This new process is vital to ensure our pharmacy colleagues can process prescriptions safely and in good time. This will help prevent patients waiting unnecessarily for their medicines, free up beds earlier for patients needing admission, and relieve pressure on staff in wards as well as in pharmacy and transport.
In July, our teams showed some real heroics to keep services running during the five day resident doctor strike action that took place between 25 and 30 July.
Thanks to extensive planning, personal sacrifices and a huge collective effort, we were less affected than in previous rounds and successfully maintained a large proportion of our planned appointments and procedures, alongside the provision of urgent, emergency, ward-based, and maternity care.
With the resident doctor strike mandate lasting until 6 January 2026, as well as Nursing and Consultant ballots on the horizon, we are braced for the possibility of further action in the coming months that will undoubtedly have a significant
impact on our operational performance, waiting lists and financial position. There is lots going on the redevelopment front which will make a huge difference to the way we are able to offer care to our patients. The autumn will see the opening of the new Same Day Emergency Care unit at Bedford, and planning is at a very early stage for a potential new Elective Care Centre also on the Bedford Hospital site. And later in the year the new Acute Services Block will open on the L&D site, which will be home to maternity, neonatal services, Intensive Care and Operating Theatres. See p.6 for more on this and other Redevelopment news.
We continue to make significant progress in improving our referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times, which has been recognised by NHS England who have now moved us out of tier 1, the highest level of support and monitoring, and into tier 2 for our Elective and Diagnostic performance. This success has been driven by sustained efforts on the Referral to Treatment 65+ weeks validation, which has been a key factor in improving our performance and in March we successfully achieved zero patients waiting for longer 65 weeks, a key milestone in our waiting list recovery work.
We also recently undertook a national waiting list ‘validation sprint’ that saw us identifying over 10,000 patients with open pathways that had started treatment. This avoids us using appointments for patients that no longer need them, and is a major component is our current drive to reduce our planned care waiting times to less than 52 weeks.
The Trust continues to work to enhance performance across other elective and diagnostic areas. Our performance is steadily improving week by week, benefiting from the ongoing validation sprint work and our focus on reducing the time to new appointments. These efforts have contributed to a marked improvement in performance. We look forward to sharing more updates on this in our next edition.
Five Years On: Reflecting on the BedsFT Merger
Five years ago, Bedford Hospital and Luton & Dunstable (L&D) University Hospital came together to form Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BedsFT).
Unlike many NHS mergers, which are often prompted by financial pressures or urgent clinical challenges, our merger was strategic. It was built on a shared catchment area and longstanding clinical networks, with a view to securing the long term future of both sites as thriving District General Hospitals (DGHs) - each with 24/7 Emergency Departments, consultant-led obstetrics and inpatient paediatrics.
Five years ago, we came together not out of necessity, but out of a shared vision. This merger was about building something stronger - two hospitals, united by purpose, working as one to deliver outstanding care. Our two hospitals have always shared deep connections—through geography, history, clinical pathways, and professional relationships. The merger was about utilising these to provide long term resilience and sustainability to the two sites.
David Carter, Chief Executive, said: “Both our hospitals are now in a much better position than they were five years ago. We are stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to serve our communities.
We’ve
come a long way together, and while there’s more to do, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. ”
“We’ve come a long way together, and while there’s more to do, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together.”
“Not many Trusts will have merged against the backdrop of an emerging pandemic, but in true Bedfordshire Hospitals style, we worked together, supported each other, and exchanged ideas and solutions to maintain essential services during a time when so many patients depended on them.
“While the pandemic brought many challenges, it also created a unique environment that helped accelerate collaboration between our clinical and management teams. The urgency of the situation meant we had to work together more closely and more quickly than we might have otherwise, which gave us a head start in building stronger, more connected teams.
“The pandemic also gave us the first glimpse into the benefits of scale and how sharing resources has allowed both sites to weather storms together. For example, during the pandemic we were able to make more flexible use of critical care beds across the two sites, and share PPE when national stocks were low.
“Dealing with the operational challenges of the pandemic did slow down some of the transformation work we had planned, but five years on we are beginning to see the benefits of our two hospitals working together as a bigger, stronger organisation.”
Redevelopment Update
Message from Melanie Banks, Director of Redevelopment and Strategic Planning
The Redevelopment function at the Trust was established by the Trust Board 10 years ago to deliver the much needed upgrades at the L&D Hospital. Over the last 5 years since merger, this has included Bedford Hospital upgrades too. The strategy agreed 10 years ago was to re-build the maternity, neonatal, critical care and theatre facilities on the L&D site. This major development is now complete and due to go live to patients towards the end of the year.
In totality, the Trust have secured £332m during this period to deliver much more than the original vision, which has now extended to include a significant upgrade and extension to our Emergency Departments, the creation of new and additional car parks to provide improved access to our sites,
Bedford Hospital
Elective Care Centre
We are pleased to share positive news about the future of planned care services at Bedford Hospital. Funding has now been secured to develop detailed plans and a full business case for a potential new Elective Care Centre on site.
These plans follow on from the masterplan redevelopment ambitions we laid out back in 2023 and marks an exciting step forward in improving how we deliver routine operations and treatments to our patients – particularly those who are currently facing long waits.
Why an Elective Care Centre?
n Reduce waiting times for planned operations
n Offer state-of-the-art facilities to improve patient care and outcomes
n Free up space in other parts of the hospital for essential maintenance and allow for improved functionality for emergencies and urgent care
new outpatient facilities and new, imaging facilities.
The work of the redevelopment team does not stop here, there are further major capital projects underway including the Community Diagnostic Centres in Bedford and in Luton that aim to improve access to vital diagnostics and onward care, as well as further initiatives that ultimately drive efficiency, productivity, improved staff experience and improved patient experience and clinical outcomes.
Fast, high-quality care is so important for the community. This centre will make a significant difference for patients across Bedfordshire and the wider region.
What stage is the project at?
n No construction work has begun
n The location and design are still under discussion
n Community input is essential to help shape the right solution
In mid-July, we held our first public engagement session inviting the public to come along, find out more information and ask questions. This will be the first of many opportunities to engage as the project progresses. To be the first to hear about progress and engagement sessions, please email:
redevelopment@bedsft.nhs.uk or look out for notices on our social media platforms.
Artist impression of what the Elective Care Centre would look like within our wider Bedford redevelopment master plan over the next 20 years.
Bedford Hospital
Same Day Emergency Care Unit (SDEC)
Our new Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit at Bedford Hospital has taken a leap towards completion, as we have received delivery of seven PODs that make up the structure of the building.
The PODs travelled hundreds of miles down the motorway, all the way from Northumberland, and were craned into position by a mega crane bearing around 250 tonnes.
To ensure minimal impact to the operational hospital site, around 90% of the facility has been constructed off-site. Creating the facility off-site has allowed the project to be carried out in a very fast and efficient way, reducing the onsite disruption to the hospital.
Work has been taking place inside the building to prepare to fully open in the autumn. It will allow patients to be assessed, diagnosed and treated, where appropriate, on the same day of arrival, where they would otherwise have been admitted to the hospital. This will alleviate the pressure on the Emergency Department and wards, and ultimately improve the patient journey.
Bedford – Community Diagnostic Centre
Work started over a year ago to create a Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Gilbert Hitchcock House on our North Wing site in Bedford, delivering modern accommodation for therapy services and phlebotomy, and to provide additional diagnostic services including MRI, CT, ultrasound, x-ray and cardiology, amongst others.
The new facilities aim to allow patients to access planned diagnostic care nearer to home without the need to attend our hospital sites, taking some pressure off our acute hospitals and allowing us to focus resources on the emergency cases coming through our doors. The new facilities also provide a significant growth in capacity allowing us to improve and shorten waiting times for patients.
The first phase of this project saw new, modern accommodation for therapy services and part of phlebotomy services who moved in during the Spring of 2025. This has been a huge undertaking for such an important project for our communities.
The second and final phase of the project will open in the Autumn and you will be able to read about what our patients and staff think of the new facilities in the next issue of Ambassador.
L&D Hospital
New clinical buildings
After three and a half years of work on site from our construction partner, Kier, we are delighted to have received handover of our new clinical buildings – a 10 year vision that is now a reality.
We are delighted to share the names of our new buildings:
n Cedar Wing will house acute services including maternity delivery suite, intensive care, neonatal and theatre services
n Oak Wing will house maternity antenatal and postnatal wards
A large amount of work is now going into ensuring the buildings are safe and ready for clinical teams and patients to move into towards the end of this year.
It has been an immense amount of work and undertaking, and we have been on a long journey to rebuild the L&D. Significant thanks for the support and input from our staff and the community, we are excited to open these new buildings very soon.
Phlebotomy testing space
Inside theatre pod
Hybrid theatre
Reception area in CDC
New facilities in CDC
L&D – Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC)
We have been fortunate to receive an opportunity to bid for £25m of capital money to develop a Community Diagnostic Centre to serve patients in Luton and South Bedfordshire.
We have been working with clinical colleagues and our Partners at the University of Bedfordshire who will host this facility for us. The University of Bedfordshire is ideally placed, in the centre of town and borders onto some of our areas of greatest health deprivation. The CDC is another example of the strong partnership between the two organisations, with opportunities for shared research and development, recruitment, training and education.
The CDC will include four new endoscopy rooms, CT, DEXA, Heart Burn Health Check (Capsule Sponge) services and Fibro scanning, all
crucial for patient pathways such as respiratory care, cardiology, liver disease, gastrointestinal conditions, and cancer diagnostics.
The CDC will provide direct and clinically relevant referrals to planned and cancer services, improving patient access and experience. Additionally, it will support outpatient services, ensuring timely treatment and maintaining performance against national elective access targets, strengthening the region’s healthcare infrastructure in support of improving patient services and onward care.
For patients, they will receive diagnostics and follow up care under one roof, access services closer to home, and more timely access to care is hoped to create an improved experience.
The Trust have received a business case approval in principle from the Department of Health and Social Care and await full statutory
Intensive care four bedded bay
Intensive care nursing station by isolation rooms
Neonatal intensive care and high dependency
Maternity birthing pool room
Maternity recovery and close monitoring
Maternity triage
approvals such as Town Planning before building works commence. Enabling works at the University however are underway, with the main construction
work anticipated to start on the project, at the start of 2026. We will of course keep you updated as this exciting project progresses.
Artist impression of new CDC on the University of Bedfordshire campus
Daring Descent: local heroes to abseil down new Acute Services Block at the L&D
More than 90 brave fundraisers –including hospital staff, patient family representatives, and community leaders – will be taking a leap of faith on Sunday 28 September by abseiling down the side of the L&D’s new Acute Services Block.
The adrenaline-fuelled event is being organised to raise money for Bedfordshire Hospitals Charity, supporting enhancements to equipment, facilities, and environments for services due to move into the state-of-the-art new block later this year.
Cheered on by colleagues, friends, and family, the participants will descend the 100ft building all in support of the hospital and its patients.
Among the participants will be nurses, doctors, executives, volunteers, former patients' families and local community leaders. Many are firsttime abseilers, taking on the challenge in the name of a great cause.
The new Acute Services Block is a major milestone for the L&D, bringing together key services such as critical care, theatres, NICU and maternity wards under one modern roof.
Bedfordshire Hospitals Charity is fundraising to provide enhanced furnishings, patient comfort items, artwork, and cutting-edge equipment to complement the high-quality care being delivered inside.
If you would like to find out more, or donate to this appeal, visit our fundraisers page
Martha’s Rule rolled out across Bedfordshire Hospitals
A major new patient safety initiative – Martha’s Rule - has been rolled out across all adult inpatient wards at Bedford Hospital and the L&D
Chosen as one of 16 Trusts in the East of England, and 143 nationally, to implement Martha's Rule ahead of the rest of the UK, a pilot began in December of last year to embed the new principles into clinical practice.
Martha’s Rule takes its name from 13 year old Martha Mills who died in hospital after developing sepsis, following a bicycle accident. Martha’s family’s concerns about her deteriorating condition were not responded to, and in 2023, a coroner ruled that Martha would probably have survived had she been moved to intensive care earlier.
The three components of Martha’s Rule are:
1. Patients will be asked, at least daily, about how they are feeling, and if they are getting better or worse, and this information will be acted on in a structured way.
2. All staff will be able, at any time, to ask for a review from a different team if they are concerned that a patient is deteriorating, and they are not being responded to.
3. This escalation route will also always be available to patients themselves, their families and carers, and advertised across the hospital.
Martha’s Rule gives healthcare staff, patients and their families a clear pathway to raise concerns about rapid deterioration.
It involves staff asking, listening, recording and acting on any changes in condition reported by patients or their loved ones, and allows them to request a review from a different team if they notice any deterioration in the patient’s condition that is not being addressed by the local care team.
A pilot began in July to roll out Martha’s Rule in Children’s Services. ED, Maternity and Neonatal services have not been included in the first phase of the national rollout but conversations are now beginning as to how provision can be made in these areas.
For more information visit our website www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk
Bedford residents invited for lung cancer screening
The national Lung Cancer Screening programme is now launching in Bedford Borough and residents aged between 55 and 74 who smoke, or used to smoke, are being invited to have a free lung health check.
Letters are being sent out via GP surgeries to all those who are eligible, inviting them to take part in the screening, or to opt-out if they wish.
The initial check will be done on the telephone, and then followed up if necessary with a face to face appointment, and then if advised, a CT scan in a mobile unit in Bedford.
The national Lung Cancer Screening programme – formerly known as the Targeted Lung Health
Check – was launched as a pilot in 2021 and Bedfordshire was chosen to take part in this because of our poor outcomes for diagnosis and lung cancer survival. It was then rolled out two years ago nationally.
The aim of the screening is to catch cancer at an early stage when it is still treatable.
A total of 34,634 letters were sent to patients across 38 GP surgeries in Luton and Central Bedfordshire.
13,014 patients engaged with the service and participated in a lung health check, of whom 5,565 went on to have a low dose CT scan.
In total, 41 cancers were identified.
For more information on the Lung Cancer Screening Programme visit the NHS website
New Therapy Assessment Suite opens for patients at Bedford Hospital
The Therapy Team at Bedford Hospital proudly celebrated the opening of the new Therapy Assessment Suite in July.
Designed to support recovery, rehabilitation, and patient-centred care, the space will help Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy teams promote independence, mobility, and reduce the care needs of patients at discharge.
It aims to prevent deconditioning by offering a quiet, off-ward environment for thorough physical and cognitive assessments and treatment programmes. The suite also supports improved motivation, mood, and overall well-being.
The Therapy Team are incredibly excited to make use of this wonderful facility with their patients.
Retired NHS staff, their partners and friends are eligible to join the NHS Retirement Fellowship to access a wide range of benefits including travel insurance deals, discounts on holidays, cars and car insurance and legal advice Website: info@nhsrf.org.uk or telephone 0800 9151455
You can join as a postal member or become a member of your local branch.
South Beds. Branch of the Fellowship:
The meetings are held on Mondays, once a month at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital in the Lecture Theatre of the Comet Suite with the dates published three months in advance, the meetings begin at 2.15pm with either a speaker, a quiz or other activity followed by refreshments. There is also a walking group which meets on a Tuesday and publishes a
list of planned walks. In June, we join other branches from around the region for a Summer Tea at Putteridge Bury and in December we hold a Christmas Lunch there too. Several members usually join the Fellowship holiday each year. In past years, it’s been to Italy, Cyprus and Switzerland with Malta in September this year. Ideal for those who are on their own but partners and friends are welcome too.
South Beds. Branch is a lively, friendly group with members from all disciplines in the NHS both hospital and community.
For more information, please contact:
Rona Harvey, email at: troika_of_burnham@talktalk.net or 07703 460797
Ros Bailey, email at: Rosalind.Bailey@ldh.nhs.uk
Members of staff supporting a patient
Staff at the opening of the Therapy Assessment Suite
Diabetic Eye screening programme expands to new sites in BLMK
In April of last year Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Milton Keynes University Hospital became the lead providers for the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK).
Both NHS Trusts were already providing diabetic eye screening for their own respective areas but joined forces to provide clinical leadership and deliver screenings at more locations to increase accessibility to patients across BLMK.
Since then three more locations in Bedfordshire and Luton have been added, taking the total to 23 locations across the region.
All people aged 12 and over with diabetes (type 1 and 2) are offered annual eye screening appointments.
The only exceptions are people with diabetic eye disease who are already under the care of an ophthalmology specialist.
The screening test usually takes around 30 minutes. Screening does not replace regular eye examinations and it is important to attend both.
For more information on the BLMK diabetic eye screening programme, and for a list of all the available locations, visit https://www.blmkdiabeticeyescreening.nhs.uk/
New kidney stone procedure introduced at the L&D
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is now offering a cutting-edge, minimally invasive procedure for kidney stone removal called Ultramini Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (Ultra-mini PCNL). As the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital (L&D) is one of only a handful of hospitals in the country to do so, the Trust has become a regional referral centre for kidney stone treatment.
This technique involves the use of an ultra-thin surgical telescope and specialised instruments to fragment and remove kidney stones under X-ray guidance, through a much smaller access point than in previous methods.
Consultant Urologist Aza Mohammed, who is leading the introduction of this new procedure at L&D, explained the significance of this innovation. He said: "Ultra-mini PCNL should prevent
bleeding cases, as it has such small tools we are able to work with a new level of precision. Furthermore, this means the operation is much faster, the patient can leave hospital that same day and recovers more quickly, and the scar from the procedure is barely noticeable.”
The first Ultra-mini PCNL procedure performed at the L&D was completed in just 90 minutes, significantly shorter than the 4–5 hours sometimes needed previously, which will allow most patients to return home the same day.
The benefits of the Ultra-mini PCNL include:
n Reduced pain
n Shorter operating times
n Minimal risk of bleeding
n Faster recovery and discharge
n Smaller incision and minimal scarring
Mr Mohammed added: “We are fortunate to have the expertise among our staff and access to the latest technology to offer this level of care. This is an important step forward for patients with kidney stones who come to the L&D. They can now receive faster, safer, and more comfortable treatment than ever before.”
With this new capability, our Trust continues to lead the way in providing outstanding urological care and improving patient outcomes through innovation.
Ultra-mini PCNL team
Charity round-up
Charity dinner
Join the Charity for their 4th Annual Charity Dinner on 13th November 2025 at the beautiful Conservatory in the Luton Hoo Estate Walled Gardens.
The evening offers a wonderful night of networking, a three course Indian banquet, raffles and auctions. Join our celebrity host, Gavin Inskip, and our guest speaker, Paul Merson, for an evening worth attending. The event starts at 4:30pm until late, tickets cost £100 per person or £900 for a table of 10. To book, please email fundraising@bedsft.nhs.uk
This event is raising funds for the Little Feet Maternity Appeal. Please see our website for more information: https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/charity/ support-our-appeals/little-feet-appeal/
Light up a Life
This annual event is such a beautiful event to attend and is loved by staff, patients and visitors alike.
Each year we light up a Christmas tree at the L&D and Sir Tom Moore’s Gardens at Bedford Hospital.
This is to remember all those who we have lost. Each light is sponsored in memory of a loved one by our staff and our community. The official switching on has seasonal music, refreshments and a poem read by the Fundraising Manager.
The lights begin sponsorship from September until December and cost £5 each or 3 lights for £10 and can be purchased in memory or as a gift. All proceeds support a charity appeal. In 2024, the light up a life event supported the Special Care Baby Unit and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit’s Parents Accommodation, and the funds raised help us support parents staying on the ward with their baby, or in our parent’s accommodation, for free, in a home from home environment. Contact fundraising@bedsft.nhs. uk or call 01582 718 289 to purchase lights.
Bedford Lights Switch – Tuesday 2nd December 2025 event starts at 5pm with the switch on at 6pm
L&D Lights Switch on – Thursday 4th December 2025 event starts at 5pm with the switch on at 6pm
Christmas charity activities
The charity is always looking forward to their end of year events and this year is no different, because People Matter Most. The team have school choirs in to sing, visits from local clubs like Luton Town Football Club, and so much more. We have a packed calendar of events with which you can get involved:
Give a Gift
Every year the charity asks for support from the community to donate gifts for patients. Our mission is to ensure every adult patient in hospital on Christmas Day and every child patient in hospital or visiting a clinic over the week of Christmas receives a gift from us. In 2024 we gifted over 3,000 gifts across our Trust. We received this feedback from a patient’s relative:
“Thank you for the gift for my father. It was so touching for him to have received a hand knitted scarf to keep him warm and in his favourite colour. It is good to know patients are thought about.”
This is a small token to be able to brighten a patient’s day just a little. We ask that all gifts are new and donated to the charity and not directly to the ward. To support this campaign, contact fundraising@bedsft.nhs.uk or call 01582 718 289. All donations need to be made to the Charity by 15th December 2025.
Sarah, Head of Charity, and Charmaine, Fundraising Manager, with 2024 Charity Dinner Guest Phil Tufnell
Bedford Light up Life 2024 switch on
Denbigh High School present delivery to the Children’s Ward
Come and volunteer with us!
Celebrating all our volunteers at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust during Volunteers’ Week 2025
Make a difference to your NHS – Volunteer!
If you are passionate about supporting the NHS and have some time to spare, you could make a difference to your local hospital and community by volunteering. We have a variety of roles to suit everyone available at the L&D and Bedford Hospital. Our current top picks include:
New shop and trolley service at the L&D
Ever fancied playing ‘shop’? Here’s your chance!
We are looking to build a team of volunteers to help in our new Charity Shop and to support our trolley service for patients and staff across the hospital. All profits will help to improve patient care and staff wellbeing.
With a new Acute Services building and Maternity facility opening soon at the L&D, a number of volunteer roles will be opening up to help guide patients, support reception desks and run errands. Maternity helpers are also welcomed in Bedford. Wayfinding, reception and runners
Forget-Me-Not volunteers
Supporting our patients who are living with dementia, our Forget-Me-Not volunteers are invaluable in offering support through a few kind words, a listening ear and time to engage in activities to distract and delight.
Chaplaincy ward visitors
Time to chat and time to listen makes such a difference to the pastoral care of our patients. Whether you have a faith or no faith, we would welcome your support, so come and join this wonderful volunteer team.
To find out more, contact Voluntary Services at: voluntaryservices@bedsft.nhs.uk
Tree planting at Bedford Hospital
Tree planting at the L&D
Staff Celebration Days
National Administrative Professionals Day
On 23 April we celebrated all our staff that work ‘behind the scenes’ and thanked them for their continued dedication and hard work. Administration encompasses a wide variety of roles that contribute to the Trust running smoothly on a daily basis.
International Day of the Midwife and Student Midwives Celebration Day
Our midwives and student midwives play an essential role across maternity services, providing compassionate care to pregnant women, birthing people, and their families throughout Bedfordshire and Luton.
For International Day of the Midwife 2025, celebrated annually on 5 May, we proudly recognised the unwavering dedication of our 550 strong midwifery workforce.
Student Midwives Celebration Day was held on 13 June, with continued celebrations to honour our 135 incredible student midwives.
Staff celebrating International Day of the Midwife at Bedford
Staff celebrating National Administrative Professionals Day
Staff celebrating International Day of the Midwife at Luton
Student Midwives Celebration Day, Bedford
Student Midwives Celebration Day, Luton
Nurses’ Day
On Monday 12 May we celebrated Nurses’ Day to recognise the invaluable work that nurses do on a daily basis and to thank them for their dedication and care.
This year we had several outstanding nominations for our Nurse of the Year and Team of the Year awards. Congratulations to the winners:
n Nurse of the Year at Bedford – Aswathy Sasidharan Achari
n Nurse of the Year at the L&D – Dinah Goniabo
n Team of the Year at Bedford – Cardiac Catheritisation team
n Team of the Year at the L&D – Diabetes and Endocrinology
National Healthcare Estates and Facilities Day
We celebrated our Estates and Facilities teams on Wednesday 18 June, thanking our staff for the essential work that they do to allow our hospitals to run. We truly could not operate the hospitals without their hard work and dedication.
Estates and Facilities staff at Bedford
Nurse of the Year at the L&D – Dinah Goniabo
Nurse of the Year at Bedford –Aswathy Sasidharan Achari
Team of the Year, Luton
Team of the Year, Bedford
Estates and Facilities staff at Luton
Staff summer engagement events a great success
The annual staff summer events were held at the beginning of July at both hospitals when more than 4000 staff found time out of their busy day to pop along for an hour, and take part in one of the sessions, and enjoy some refreshments.
The events are hosted by the executive team and are an opportunity for them to say thank you, give staff a break from their day-to-day activities, and set the direction of travel for our hospitals.
This year communication was the key and the session looked at how we communicate with each other and how we would like others to communicate with us. The aim of the session was to look at how we can better understand these differences.
All staff are working hard to achieve the same aim – delivery of the best possible care for our patients –and by continuing to explore and better understand our communication styles, we can make a difference to the care we provide.
The next staff engagement events will be held at the beginning of December.
can you spot yourself here? @Bedford site...
More photos of the summer event @L&D site...
Diary Dates
The next Medical Lecture – 21 October 2025
“With the End in Mind”
A discussion about what we might want end-of-life care to look like
Date: Tuesday, 21 October 2025, 5.30pm for 6pm start, 7.30pm finish
Venue: Luton Sixth Form College, Bradgers Hill Rd, Luton LU2 7EW Refreshments on arrival: Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.
RSVP: To register email at FTMembership@bedsft.nhs.uk
The lecture will be presented by Clinical Director Penny McNamara and Consultant Steve Brosnan and their colleagues at Bedford and L&D Hospitals. This will take place at 5.30pm for 6pm start and finish at 7.30pm on 21 October, at Luton Sixth Form College, Bradgers Hill Road, Luton, LU2 7EW. There will be time for questions following the presentation and the opportunity for informal discussions with our Trust Governors, from 5.30pm. If you would like to attend the lecture, please contact us in order to book a place, as spaces are limited. To book a place you can contact us at FTMembership@bedsft.nhs.uk
Next Annual Members’ Meeting – 17 September 2025
Come along and find out all you need to know about how Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been performing over the past year, and learn more about our strategy for the future. If you are a member this is your opportunity to meet your governor representatives and hear from the Trust Leadership team.
Date: Wednesday 17 September 2025, 5.30pm for 6pm start, 7.30pm finish
Venue: King’s House Bedford, 245 Ampthill Road, Bedford, MK42 9AZ Refreshments on arrival: Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.
RSVP: To register email at FTMembership@bedsft.nhs.uk
Your governors
Governors have a general duty to represent the interests of members of the public and staff who have elected them. Governors therefore interact regularly with members of the public and staff to ensure that they understand their views, and to make sure that they clearly communicate information on trust performance and planning.
The public governors can be contacted via email at governors@bedsft.nhs.uk and staff governors on their staff email addresses.
If you wish to know who your governors are please visit https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk
