26 January 2024

Research pilot set to improve experiences of local people with diabetes

A pioneering research project is set to make a difference to the lives of people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, following the launch of a partnership programme which will reflect…

23 January 2024

‘Take up your screening opportunity’ call as Cervical Cancer Prevention Week begins

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) is highlighting the benefits of cervical screening during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (22-28 January) and reminding people that cervical screening can…

18 January 2024

When to send children to school, or keep them home

With children now back at school and levels of winter illnesses including flu, COVID-19 and norovirus continuing to rise, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) is reminding…

15 January 2024

‘Blue Monday’ isn’t real, but seasonal mental health struggles often are

You don’t have to be taken in by the hype of ‘Blue Monday’ but, for many people, the winter can be a difficult time of year.  Dark mornings and long, gloomy…

12 January 2024

Leighton Buzzard Public Update – January 2024

Update on the development of the Outline Business Case for additional health services in Leighton Buzzard In our last update in December, we were pleased to share news of our event…

11 January 2024

Digital innovation helps local care homes safely manage medications

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership is supporting local care providers to take advantage of digital tools and systems like Proxy Access so they can provide the best…

11 January 2024

Digital records help care homes to work smarter and safer 

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership is supporting local care providers to take advantage of digital tools and systems like Digital Social Care Records (DSCR) so they can…

9 January 2024

Junior doctors’ strike ends, but services will take time to return to normal

Health services in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes will take time to get back to normal following the end of the longest strike in NHS history, a senior local doctor has…

8 January 2024

Check your children’s vaccination status, as measles cases show worrying rise

Parents in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have been alerted to the risk of measles, as cases have increased on the eve of children’s return to school after the Christmas break.…

8 January 2024

Beat the cost of living crisis with help towards your health costs

Although most NHS treatment is free, there are still some costs you might need to pay. With many households still struggling with the cost of living crisis, however, you may be…

4 January 2024

Health advice issued for this weekend’s Cold Health Alert

People in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have been urged to plan now for a cold snap, following a warning about incoming weather conditions this weekend and into next week. The…

2 January 2024

“Please use NHS services wisely” call as new NHS strike goes ahead

NHS leaders in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have warned of further potential disruption to local health services over the next week, as new industrial action by junior doctors is due…

27 December 2023

New Year resolutions: NHS help is on hand for those wanting a healthier lifestyle in…

Many people promise to turn over a new leaf as another New Year dawns, especially if they’ve overdone it a little while enjoying Christmas festivities with family or friends. New Year…

21 December 2023

Get the care you need this Christmas: advice on NHS opening times over the festive…

We all depend on our local health and care services through the year, but their staff also need a break over the holiday period, so that they can spend time with…

20 December 2023

Get the help you need during the current industrial action

We expect all NHS services to be extremely busy during industrial action by junior doctors, from 20-23 December and from 3-9 January. Please help us to help you by seeking advice…

20 December 2023

Get the care you need this Christmas

We all depend on our local health and care services through the year, but their staff also need a break over the holiday period, so that they can spend time with…

19 December 2023

“Be prepared for minor illness this winter,” NHS urges local residents

With health services under pressure due to high winter demand, the NHS is asking people to think carefully about how they use the NHS and to prepare to treat minor illnesses…

19 December 2023

New statistics show more patients are being seen in our general practices

New data on appointments in general practices, published by NHS England, show that patients in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes were able to book over 551,000 consultations in October 2023, an…

19 December 2023

Further NHS strike plans prompt new call for residents to use services wisely

New industrial action by junior doctors, due to begin this week, has prompted NHS leaders to warn of further potential disruption to local health services, with patients and the public asked…

14 December 2023

Live Well Newsletter Issue 7 2023

Welcome to our seventh issue of 2023 of Live Well, the partner newsletter for the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership. To be added to our mailing list…

13 December 2023

150 local people avoid a hospital stay, thanks to new technology

Around 150 people in Milton Keynes have been kept out of hospital so far this year, thanks to the introduction of an innovative new Virtual Ward (Hospital at Home) project which…

4 December 2023

NHS urges local people to ‘know your risk’ in Diabetes Awareness Month

People in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have been urged to check their individual risk of type 2 diabetes, as Diabetes Awareness Month (November) draws to a close. The NHS in…

1 December 2023

Leighton Buzzard Public Update – December 2023

In our last update on work in Leighton Buzzard, we were pleased to confirm that a “focus group” style event would be held in the town in early November with attendance…

29 November 2023

New technology helping people to stay safely in their own homes

20 people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes are being helped to live safely in their own homes, thanks to an innovative wireless device which remotely monitors a person’s vital signs,…

29 November 2023

MiiCare helps local people to live independently for longer

MiiCare is an innovative wireless device that remotely monitors someone’s vital signs, hydration levels, sleep patterns and wellbeing to prevent falls, an infection or a hospital stay. Having these timely insights…

23 November 2023

“Don’t let COVID or flu spoil your holiday season,” NHS urges residents as Christmas approaches

Eligible residents in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have been urged to beat the rush and come forward now for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, ahead of an expected surge in demand.…

21 November 2023

Celebrating exceptional nurses: Queen’s Nurse Awards honour local nurses

Two outstanding nurses in Luton have received the prestigious Queen’s Nurse (QN) title for their contributions to healthcare. The Queen’s Nurse title is a mark of their commitment to nursing excellence…

16 November 2023

“Be clear on cancer” call in Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month – and people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have been alerted to the symptoms to look out for. The pancreas is an organ in…

13 November 2023

Look after yourself this Self-Care Week!

This week (13-19 November) is Self-Care Week, and one of the region’s top doctors has reminded people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes to take time for themselves to improve their…

9 November 2023

“Get your COVID and flu jabs this winter,” older people urged as cases rise

Over-65s in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have been reminded that it’s not too late to get COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, as the number of cases continues to rise across England.…

6 November 2023

UK’s largest health research project opens new sites and calls for more volunteers to step…

People in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have been urged to join the UK’s largest health research programme as it opens new sites in Milton Keynes and Bedford to go along…

2 November 2023

NHS urges people in BLMK to come forward for Life Saving Cancer Checks

Residents in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) are being urged to be aware of the symptoms of potential lung cancer and to come forward for targeted screening if they are…

1 November 2023

Careers in learning disability nursing highlighted as part of national event

Those thinking about a career in the NHS have been urged to consider specialising in learning disabilities, as the UK marks Learning Disability Nurse Day (Wednesday 1 November). Learning disability nurses…

25 October 2023

Flu and COVID jab reminders to start arriving this week

Eligible people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes who have not yet come forward for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations will begin to receive reminders from today. COVID-19 and flu vaccination appointments…

24 October 2023

Hundreds of residents share their perspective on Digital Strategy for health and care services

Together, NHS and local authority partners at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Health and Care Partnership designed a Digital Strategy – their plan for using digital tools and services to…

23 October 2023

Update on Leighton Buzzard Outline Business Case

Last month, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Integrated Care Board published an initialupdate on the Outline Business Case for additional health and care services in Leighton Buzzard.We are pleased today…

23 October 2023

Celebrating ‘Saluting Our Sisters’ in Black History Month

As we enter Black History Month this year, I want to share my personal journey, which is deeply rooted in African heritage, Caribbean culture, and British upbringing. It’s a journey of…

19 October 2023

Boosting Health During Cancer Recovery in BLMK

A cancer rehabilitation programme in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) is helping patients to improve their physical and mental health throughout their journey through cancer recovery. Staying physically and mentally…

17 October 2023

ICB staff get stuck into community events

NHS workers from the local Integrated Care Board have spent the weekend in the community as they got stuck into two big local events in Luton and Milton Keynes. Chief executive…

13 October 2023

New video explains how sharing health and care records helps provide a better service for…

Share for Care is a confidential, electronic system for sharing health and care records to improve health and care across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. Information is brought together from all…

11 October 2023

Connecting more of the Capital’s neighbours to the London Care Record

To support more joined up care for people from outside London who have been referred for treatment and care in the Capital more neighbouring areas will be connected to the London…

11 October 2023

Pregnant women urged to get their flu jab this winter

Pregnant women in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have been urged to come forward for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations this winter. COVID-19 and flu vaccination appointments are now available for booking…

11 October 2023

Digital Social Care Records bring benefits to local care home and its residents

Noticing a shift towards digital record keeping within the care industry, a care home in Bedford decided to trial Digital Social Care Records (DSCR) with its staff. DSCRs allow care home…

9 October 2023

New strategy to reduce suicides could save up to 80 local lives each year

As World Mental Health Day (Tuesday 10 October) approaches, NHS leaders in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have welcomed the publication of a new national strategy which could prevent many of…

6 October 2023

Raizer chair cuts A&E visits by local care home residents

An emergency chair which helps lift people after falls has led to a 27% reduction in the number of people admitted to hospital unnecessarily – saving the NHS more than £100,000…

6 October 2023

NHS invites people in Luton and Central Bedfordshire for life-saving lung cancer checks

More than 39,000 people across Luton and Central Bedfordshire have been invited for a potentially life-saving free lung check, as part of the biggest programme to improve early lung cancer diagnosis…

2 October 2023

New NHS strike action begins, with residents urged to use services wisely

Industrial action by both junior and consultant doctors which began this morning has prompted NHS leaders to warn of further potential disruption to local health services, with patients and the public…

29 September 2023

Kathy’s award triumph rewards her innovative cancer work in Luton

There were celebrations last night (Thursday 28 September) for a local NHS worker after she was presented with a prestigious national award for her innovation in researching the experience of cancer…

27 September 2023

Stoptober: “When you stop smoking, good things start to happen”

Stoptober is back this October, calling on smokers in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes to join the 2.5million others across England who have made a quit attempt with the campaign since…

26 September 2023

Live Well Newsletter Issue 6 2023

Welcome to our sixth issue of 2023 of Live Well, the partner newsletter for the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership. To be added to our mailing list…

22 September 2023

Inspirational local nurse shortlisted for national award

Local nurse Blenda Correya has been shortlisted for an award at the prestigious Nursing Times Workforce Summit and Awards 2023 after colleagues nominated her for her inspirational work. Blenda was shortlisted…

21 September 2023

New community garden in Dunstable provides a path to better mental health

A brand-new community garden has opened in Dunstable to give local people the opportunity to improve their mental and physical wellbeing through volunteering in a natural setting.  The project has been…

21 September 2023

Share for Care: Providing residents with better, safer and quicker care

Residents across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes are receiving better, safer and quicker care thanks to the confidential, electronic record sharing system called Share for Care. Share for Care enables health…

21 September 2023

Falls Awareness Week shines focus on health and independence for older people

Last year alone, 4,445 individuals aged over 65 were admitted to hospitals in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes due to falls. This averages more than 10 patients every day, with many…

19 September 2023

Health and social care support worker careers roadshow rolls in next week

A careers roadshow highlighting support worker jobs in the NHS and adult social care is on its way to two venues in Luton and Dunstable town centres next week. There are…

18 September 2023

Adults can now book COVID-19 vaccinations, with flu campaign also under way

For some people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, flu and COVID-19 are unpleasant.  But for many, particularly those with certain health conditions, older people and pregnant women, they can be…

15 September 2023

Further NHS strike plans prompt new call for residents to use services wisely

New strike date announcements by both junior and consultant doctors for September have prompted NHS leaders to warn of further potential disruption to local health services, with patients and the public…

13 September 2023

Virtual Wards helping to reduce pressure on healthcare services in Milton Keynes

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) has been using Virtual Wards since December 2022 to provide support to residents in Milton Keynes and further afield. Provided by Milton…

8 September 2023

Update on Leighton Buzzard Outline Business Case

Update – September 2023: Development of an Outline Business Case for additional Health and Care Services in Leighton Buzzard The ICB has committed to providing six-weekly updates on its work with…

4 September 2023

Annual flu vaccination programme gets under way as children return to school

Parents have been urged to get their children immunised against flu, as the annual vaccination campaign gets under way. Children from Reception to Year 11 will be offered a vaccination at…

1 September 2023

Vaccination changes mean full protection against HPV has never been easier

It’s now easier than ever for most young people to get vaccinated against a common infection which can cause cancers in both men and women, following changes to the human papillomavirus…

29 August 2023

Celebration for Kathy as she is nominated for national health award

A popular NHS worker is celebrating after being shortlisted for a prestigious national award for her innovation in cancer research in Luton. Kathy Nelson, head of the cancer network for Bedfordshire,…

24 August 2023

Audit Chair appointed to Integrated Care Board

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) has confirmed Vineeta Manchanda as its newly appointed Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair. Vineeta brings strong financial management skills developed…

22 August 2023

NHS consultant doctors set to strike again this week

NHS consultant doctors are due to undertake strike action this week, and senior health service leaders are again urging the public to choose services wisely during the industrial action. Consultants will…

17 August 2023

School and college leavers invited to check out NHS and care careers as results day…

With tens of thousands of young people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes set to receive their A Level, NVQ and GCSE results over the next week, school and college leavers…

11 August 2023

Helping people to register with a GP after Wenlock Surgery closure

Over 3,500 patients from Wenlock Street Surgery in Luton have already registered with a new GP in the first two weeks following its closure.But 99 people – representing less than 3%…

10 August 2023

Public urged to choose health services wisely as further NHS strikes loom

With further doctors’ strikes due to affect the NHS in August, senior local doctors are again warning the public to choose services wisely during the industrial action. Junior doctors will again…

7 August 2023

Bedford charity helps to rebuild lives with grant support

A charity in Bedford is helping to rebuild lives in their local community, thanks to support from a cost of living grant. The King’s Arms Project is a charity in Bedford…

3 August 2023

Digital Social Care Record leads to better, safer care for local residents

As part of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership’s digital transformation agenda, the Digitising Social Care programme is working hard to provide support and funding to enable…

2 August 2023

ICB Leaders respond to Central Bedfordshire Council’s support for additional health and care services in…

Commenting on the update from Central Bedfordshire Council, published on Friday 28 July 2023, Dr Rima Makarem, Chair of the BLMK Integrated Care Board, said: “We are pleased to be working…

31 July 2023

“Get up to date on children’s jabs” call as summer holidays arrive

Parents of school-aged children in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have been urged to bring their vaccinations up to date during the summer holidays, as fears rise of a surge in…

28 July 2023

Update on additional health and care services in Leighton Buzzard

In May, we were pleased to publish our Feasibility Study into additional health and care services in Leighton Buzzard. The Study highlighted the options for increasing health capacity in the Town,…

27 July 2023

Live Well Newsletter Issue 5 2023

Welcome to our fifth issue of 2023 of Live Well, the partner newsletter for the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership. To be added to our mailing list…

27 July 2023

Patients to get the help they need more quickly as new Unscheduled Care Hub launched…

A brand new Unscheduled Care Hub has been unveiled in Luton to support more patients to get the help they need more quickly. Paramedics will be able to transfer suitable patients…

26 July 2023

Update on Wenlock Street Surgery

Further to our announcement last week that Wenlock Street Surgery will close on 28 July, following the resignation of Dr Saleh, the sole GP partner for the surgery, a list of…

26 July 2023

Stoma patients benefit from new specialist service

People in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes who have a stoma can now take advantage of a dedicated prescription service to make sure the stoma products they receive are the right…

25 July 2023

Health and care partners commit to tackling major employment and health challenges

The links between health and employment in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes were the focus of a first-of-its-kind seminar held in Flitwick on Friday 21 July. Around 80 people from local…

19 July 2023

Statement on the closure of Wenlock Street Surgery, Luton

Today, Wednesday 19 July, we are informing patients of Wenlock Street Surgery in Luton that their practice will close on Friday 28 July, following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection and…

19 July 2023

Event to support local care providers with digital innovation hailed great success

Around 80 care sector staff from across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes came together recently to learn about the latest digital tools and innovations that can help improve care experience. The…

18 July 2023

Integrated Care Board finance team achieves accredited status

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board has been handed a key NHS financial accreditation as it seeks to make best use of public money. The NHS Finance Towards Excellence…

17 July 2023

Cost of Living Grant helping to reduce food poverty in Bedford

A local charity has expanded a service helping to reduce food poverty in Bedford thanks to a cost of living grant. IMPAKT Food is a community larder currently operating out of…

17 July 2023

Local NHS launches innovative app to support international nurses

The NHS in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) is giving a boost to internationally educated staff with the launch of an innovative app to provide them with valuable support as…

12 July 2023

“Use health services wisely” call as NHS strikes approach

Health leaders across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes are urging local people to choose services wisely ahead of widespread strike action in the NHS over the next two weeks. Junior doctors…

5 July 2023

NHS’s 75th birthday to be marked in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes

The NHS celebrates its 75th birthday on Wednesday 5 July, with people and organisations across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes set to join in the festivities. Public buildings across Bedfordshire, Luton…

29 June 2023

Award success for Bedfordshire Breastfeeding Buddies

A group of caring and diligent NHS volunteers in Bedfordshire have been recognised for their vital contribution to breastfeeding support. The Breastfeeding Buddies from Bedfordshire Community Health Services (part of Cambridgeshire…

29 June 2023

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership celebrates first birthday

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership is celebrating its first birthday this week – marking a significant milestone in the transformation of healthcare services in the region. Since…

26 June 2023

Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our local population.

Sam*, from Bedfordshire, was caring for her mum, who had become blind, and her dad, who had been suffering with Tuberculosis.  The caring role was leaving Sam very anxious and stressed,…

22 June 2023

NHS commemorates 75th anniversary of Windrush

As Britain marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) joins the nation in honouring and celebrating the enduring…

20 June 2023

Book a smear test urges NHS as screening numbers decline

With the number of women going for a cervical screening test falling year-on-year, the NHS is urging women to prioritise their health this Cervical Screening Awareness Week (19 to 25 June…

16 June 2023

500 young people in Bedfordshire benefit from local investment to build key skills

500 young people aged five to 16 years old in Bedfordshire have benefitted from an innovative scheme to help build self-confidence, self-esteem, resilience, communication thanks to a cost-of-living grant. The funding…

16 June 2023

NHS urges asthmatics and hay fever sufferers to plan ahead as thunderstorms expected to hit…

The NHS is urging people with asthma and who suffer from hay fever to plan ahead as heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to hit the East of England on Sunday…

16 June 2023

“Last chance” call over COVID-19 vaccinations

Thousands of eligible people who have not yet come forward for COVID-19 vaccinations have been reminded that they have only two weeks left to get their jabs before the offer ends…

16 June 2023

‘Are you the Giving Type?’ public asked during National Blood Donor Week

People in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have been asked ‘Are you the Giving Type?’ as part of a campaign to increase the number of blood donors. This year the NHS…

15 June 2023

‘Lift someone out of loneliness,’ NHS urges during Loneliness Week

People in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have been urged to look out for signs of loneliness in friends and family this week as the UK marks Loneliness Week 2023 (12-18…

14 June 2023

‘Think about hay fever care at home,’ NHS urges as pollen count and website hits…

The number of hay fever sufferers seeking advice from the NHS website in England has more than tripled in over the last few weeks – reaching a total of over 122,000…

9 June 2023

GP Partner appointed to Integrated Care Board

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) has confirmed Dr Sahadev Swain as its newly appointed GP Partner Member. Dr Swain, who lives in Hertfordshire, has worked as…

7 June 2023

Michelle to champion carers in new trustee role

Having been a carer for her father, Michelle Evans-Riches always marks Carers’ Week, but this year it means even more as she’s been appointed as a trustee at a local carers’…

7 June 2023

Share your views on local urgent eyecare services

The NHS in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes is seeking the views of residents who have experience of using the Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES). CUES was established during the COVID…

6 June 2023

Local NHS organisations celebrate Volunteers’ Week 2023

There’s never been a better time to join the more than 16 million Brits who volunteer through a group, club or organisation.  That’s the view of Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes…