February 2024 – Update on Health and Care Services in Leighton Buzzard

February 2024 – Update on Health and Care Services in Leighton Buzzard image

Home » News » February 2024 – Update on Health and Care Services in Leighton Buzzard

1.We are pleased to confirm that additional clinics to respond to winter pressures continue in the Town, led by hard working primary care teams. Appointments are booked on the day via registered practices, and this is providing an additional five hours’ capacity for minor illness issues each day.

2.The Town’s Primary Care Network (PCN) has employed an additional First Contact Physiotherapist to support with residents’ musculoskeletal issues as part of the new Same Day Minor Illness Service. Clinics started w/c 12 February 2024 and are held in one of the recently secured additional rooms at the Health Centre on Bassett Road. Pre-bookable appointments and same day appointments for urgent issues are available. We know that a very significant proportion of primary care demand is related to MSK issues, and we are pleased to see this support making a difference locally.

3.We know there is particular interest in the additional rooms secured at the Health Centre to support additional access to primary care services. In addition to the physiotherapy support described above, a second room is currently being used for additional phlebotomy and respiratory clinics alongside smoking cessation services and medication reviews. Two further rooms are also supporting additional phlebotomy services and other PCN services. Between 1st April 2023 and 31st October 2023, 16,900 blood tests were undertaken in Leighton Buzzard – more than Central Beds comparator practices over the same period. We appreciate that some patients continue to need to travel outside of Leighton Buzzard for blood tests, and we would like to see as many patients as possible receive this service in the most convenient setting for them. 

4.The PCN page on each practice’s website is being updated with a list of services provided, how they are accessed, and where they are held. You can read more on the pages for Leighton Road, Bassett Road and Salisbury House.

5.We continue to work with a range of partners to develop the Outline Business Case (OBC) for additional services in the Town. We are looking particularly closely at the range of estimates for the capital that could be released from the DHSC-owned site on Vandyke Road. The OBC will explore potential additional premises as well as how we could make better use of the existing health estate in the Town, including that which is currently used for administrative purposes. We anticipate that we will be in a position to share the key findings from the Outline Business Case in May 2024, and look forward to discussing its conclusions with residents and local representatives.

BLMK Integrated Care Board, 23 February 2024

View all news

Latest news and highlights

News

12 September 2025

Groundbreaking local cancer project shortlisted for major national award

Pioneering work to tackle health inequalities in cancer treatment in Luton has been shortlisted for one of the health sector’s most prestigious awards. A spotlight…

News

12 September 2025

“Know your numbers” call to patients amid hidden blood pressure risk

As many as 100,000 people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes could be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure, potentially putting them at risk of…

Case Study

11 September 2025

RoboPets have made a real difference to older, cared-for people in Bedfordshire

In September 2024, Sembia Johnson joined M&C Home Support Ltd in Bedfordshire as Care Manager, and in February 2025 became the Registered Manager. The company, founded in 2022 by husband-and-wife…

News

10 September 2025

Eligible residents urged to get protected against flu this winter

People who qualify for a free NHS flu vaccination this winter have been reminded to make a plan to receive it, as the annual campaign kicks off in Bedfordshire, Luton…

News

1 September 2025

Chairs for the East of England’s reorganised future integrated care boards confirmed

The geographies of the three clusters of ICBs in the East of England. NHS England in the East of England has today confirmed the appointments of the three Chairs who…

Case Study

27 August 2025

RoboPets raise a smile with local care home residents

Elstow Lodge Residential Home in Bedford currently has eight residents, most of whom have a learning disability, while others live with a physical disability or dementia. As part of a…