26 January 2023
Catch-up flu clinics for children in Luton
‘Catch-up’ flu clinics for children aged 2 to 15 are set to take place in Luton this weekend (Saturday 28 January) and during the February…
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It’s amazing how quickly 2021 has flown by and the ongoing pandemic has continued to be tough for all of us, but for people drawing on and working in social care, it has been a time of real continued challenge and I know we are not all out of the woods just yet.
Looking back over the year as Director of Adults’ Services in Bedford Borough Council I have found it incredible to see such creativity, care and compassion to support people. We have celebrated this and reflected often to harness the best elements of new ways of working, which have continued to be developed. The collaboration between health and social care services with our partner agencies has also continued to be positive and effective. We have also reached new heights in learning more about the wealth of expertise and important work that exists every day in our local communities and neighbourhoods.
For me, the past year has also again shone a light on the fundamental part social care plays. In moving forward I feel we must continue to make sure that we see the changes needed to ensure that people who work in social care are valued and recognised for all that they do every day to ensure critical supports and services continue to be provided.
As we await news on social care reform we have continued to see workforce challenges, so we continue to work hard to retain our valued and diverse workforce and to support wellbeing. We continue our aspiration to recruit to the wide range of opportunities available across the sector and to work in a co-produced way to shape the future, so people can be supported in a way that fulfils their lives, with those who are entering or already working, in a rewarding and successful career locally. Importantly, I cannot look back on the past year without acknowledging and recognising the critical role that unpaid carers have played day-in-day-out, they have continued to be the backbone. A massive thank you to you all.
There is a lot to be proud of looking back on 2021 and I look forward to the new opportunities 2022 will bring individually and collectively and within the health and care system partnerships.
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26 January 2023
Catch-up flu clinics for children in Luton
‘Catch-up’ flu clinics for children aged 2 to 15 are set to take place in Luton this weekend (Saturday 28 January) and during the February…
26 January 2023
Bedfordshire Hospitals’ Midwives win NHS England’s Chief Midwife Officer’s Silver Award
Professor Jacqueline Dunkley–Bent OBE, NHS England’s Chief Midwifery Officer, recently awarded three of our marvellous midwives at Bedfordshire Hospitals these coveted awards. The Chief Midwife…
26 January 2023
Healthy Mother, Healthy Pregnancy Event
Health and care professionals are invited to attend a ‘Healthy Mother, Healthy Pregnancy’ event hosted by the Local Maternity & Neonatal System (LMNS) at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated…
24 January 2023
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week
Bedford Borough is encouraging residents who have received a letter from their GP inviting them to a cervical screening test, to attend their appointment. Screening helps to detect any pre-cancer…
17 January 2023
Changes to provider for Ivel Medical Centre, Biggleswade
Statement on Ivel Medical Centre, Biggleswade The GP partners at Ivel Medical Centre in Biggleswade have notified Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) of their decision…
17 January 2023
First ‘Using Quality Improvement to Tackle Inequity’ workshop held in BLMK
A workshop on using quality improvement to tackle inequity was delivered for the first time in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes – a big step forward as part of Bedfordshire,…