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Bedford Hospital

This is the official page for Bedford Hospital, part of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Frequently Asked Questions

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This is the official page for Bedford Hospital. You can also visit our website at www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk or follow our account on Twitter

Please note that this site is not monitored 24 hours a day and that cannot be used to give medical advice. In a medical emergency you should dial 999 and for non-urgent medical advice you should dial 111. How is the site managed? This site does not have a dedicated team to service the enquiries made through it. The staff who post the responses are doing so in addition to their main roles.

2. What can I post on the site? Please remember that Facebook is a public forum and is not the appropriate place for us to discuss specific cases or complaints. In such cases we may message you directly to inform you on how best to resolve your issue. Whilst we encourage healthy debate and appreciate that our users will have opinions on current events, we ask everyone to remember that this site has a large and diverse user base, so please be respectful when making your comments. Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is our dedicated department that deals with these enquiries and can be contacted via email at PALS@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk or by phone on 01234 795814.

3. What is your deletion policy? Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will remove any comments that are considered to be:

- Offensive
- Abusive
- Threatening
- Deliberately insensitive or inflammatory
- Contain links

We may remove posts that have no connection to the Trust as this site is for local healthcare information. It is inappropriate for us to comment on or host debates about actions being undertaken by other Trusts, other professional bodies or other countries. Where possible we will try to inform a user that their post has been deleted and offer an explanation as to why. However, as this site is not run by a dedicated team, we may not always be able to do this.

4. Why do you mention the names of some patients? Patients that we name in our articles and posts have agreed and signed to do so. Each patient fills out a consent form which must be signed by them and authorised by a responsible clinician if appropriate.

5. How can I contact you if I don’t want to post my questions on here? You can contact the communications team via email at Communications@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk. Again please note that emails are not monitored 24 hours a day cannot be used to give medical advice. Alternatively, you can contact our PALS team (patient advice and liaison service) via email at PALS@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk.

6. Key information and advice

You can find out more about our hospital at www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk

Company Overview

Bedford Hospital , South Wing, Kempston Road, Bedford, MK42 9DJ. Terms

Posts which do not comply with our Facebook terms or are offensive, discriminatory or accusatory will be deleted immediately. Bedford Hospital is not responsible for content posted up by members of the public or external companies. Our acceptance of their profile is not an endorsement of the content.

26/09/2025

Our final story to share this is that of Nigel Bartram - an incredible donor who gave the gift of life.

Nigel was reversing into his driveway when he suddenly became confused. His wife Tina noticed his irregular driving, and within two minutes his condition worsened, leading to his collapse.

The ambulance crew intubated him, but he suffered a massive intracranial bleed and tragically could not be saved. Nigel was registered as an organ donor, and was able to donate both kidneys, his liver and his heart valves.

Impressed and touched by the Organ Donation and Intensive Care Unit teams’ work, Tina has since started working at Bedford Hospital, where she finds comfort in contributing to the NHS and indirectly supporting those in need.

His family and the Organ Donation team have put up a commemorative plaque in the hospital showing Nigel and sharing the words: “We will always remember Nigel and be proud he lives on through the lives he saved.”

Visit our website to read more of Nigel's story: www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/organ-donation/organ-donation-week-2025/

Don't forget to confirm your own decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

25/09/2025

Shilpa is a Highly Specialist Pharmacist working with Antimicrobials, across both sites at Bedfordshire Hospitals.

To celebrate she said: "World Pharmacist Day is a special opportunity to pause and reflect on the impact pharmacists have across healthcare and why I chose this profession and why I am proud to be part of it. As a Antimicrobial Pharmacist, I see first-hand how pharmacy expertise transforms outcomes: from ensuring safe and effective antimicrobial use, to reducing resistance, to supporting colleagues across the multidisciplinary team with specialist knowledge and guidance.

"Switching someone from IV to oral antibiotics can help them avoid complications and get them home sooner. Pharmacists are integral to every stage of a patient's journey - ensuring the right medicines, at the right dose, at the right time. I am proud to be part of a profession that continually innovates, evolves, and champions safe, high-quality care for our patients."

25/09/2025

Today is

Meet Tesha, an Advanced Specialist Pharmacist at Bedford Hospital: "World Pharmacist Day is a reminder of the vital role we play in supporting patients' healthcare journey. As a hospital pharmacist at Bedfordshire Hospitals Trust for five years, I've learned that even small conversations about medications can significantly impact patient care and autonomy. Pharmacists have the opportunity to educate patients, empowering them to make informed decisions about their treatment, which can improve medication adherence.

"This day offers a valuable chance to reflect on the influence of our profession and inspires me to pursue continuous improvement for the role. Knowing that patients trust us to guide them through important health decisions motivates me daily. I'm proud to be part of a profession that makes a meaningful difference in patients' lives."

25/09/2025

Proud Lutonian, Jackie Little, shares the events leading to her needing a new liver for .

“I was first diagnosed with liver problems in 2017 and then with autoimmune hepatitis in 2020. I was managed on medication by a fabulous team from both the L&D and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I found in 2023 I started to feel more tired, although some days I still felt really well. The tiredness got worse into 2024, with days when I would sleep all day. I then developed encephalopathy, a change in how my brain functioned.

“I was put on the organ waiting list in November 2024, and was nervous and relieved all at the same time. Then five months later, I was called in for transplant. When I woke up the next day my head was clear, I didn't feel confused, and my speech was clearer.

“Words can’t describe how this has improved all of our lives. None of us take anything for granted anymore, and we are all more grateful for the small things. It makes you realise what’s really important, like appreciating my new grandson that I will now see grow up with the rest of my family.

“We will be eternally grateful to my donor and their family. It's so important to be on the organ donor register as it gives people like me their life back.”

Visit our website to read more of Jackie's story: www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/organ-donation/organ-donation-week-2025/

Don't forget to confirm your own decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register

24/09/2025

Riseley resident John Ellison shares his story of finding a new heart in an unlikely place for .

"I have lived in Riseley for 43 years and I am a volunteer on the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at Bedford Hospital.

"In 2016 I was referred to Royal Papworth Hospital by the Bedford Cardiology team for a heart transplant, as I had been diagnosed with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), a form of heart disease.

"I received my 'donation after circulatory death' (DCD) heart transplant in November 2017 and was only the 36th person in the country to have a transplant of this kind. I am now coming up to eight years post-transplant and am leading a full and active life. I have three grandchildren, two of which I might never have met had it not been for the incredible generosity of my donor and his family.

"DCD transplants were born out of the need to increase organ availability but despite this, there is still a shortage of organs for those in desperate need of a transplant. This is why Organ Donation Week is such an important event to raise awareness and to help those waiting for a much needed transplant."

Visit our website to read more of John's story: www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/organ-donation/organ-donation-week-2025/

Don't forget to confirm your own decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

23/09/2025

Next for , we hear from Kathy Sears, whose chronic lung condition had left her in need of a double lung donation.

"I was listed in October 2022, and critically ill by December 2022, in complete respiratory failure, treated in my local intensive therapy unit (ITU), with a very poor prognosis. After going to appeal, I was upgraded to the urgent list, received a transplant, and underwent surgery in February 2023.

"I was never a smoker, had no specific history and no clear reason for developing what is considered a rare lung disease. Without the selfless decision of my donor and the willingness of the family to see those wishes through, my story and that of my family would have had a very different ending.

"I had never thought that much about donation before. I was signed up for it, but had never thought that I would be one of the proportionate few that would need one. I hope for a time where donation is common place and the waits are shorter ."

Visit our website to read more of Kathy's story: www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/organ-donation/organ-donation-week-2025/

Don't forget to confirm your own decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

22/09/2025

To begin , we share Debbie’s story.

Bedfordshire local Debbie Montford woke up one morning, having been holding down two jobs and being “fit as a fiddle”, to suddenly find herself in urgent need of a liver transplant.

She said: “I looked in the mirror, saw I was yellow and thought ‘oh my God!’ and went to Bedford Hospital Emergency Department. I discovered I had seronegative autoimmune hepatitis, and received fantastic care from the Bedford teams looking after me.

“I was transferred to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , and two days later under the care of Dr Webb, I received the amazing gift of life from the family of a man whom was loved so dearly from old life to new. I owe the world to that family, and to my liver consultants, Dr Patel (pictured) and Dr Webb: if it wasn't for Dr Patel’s assessment and transfer, and Dr Webb’s care, I wouldn’t be here today."

Visit our website to read more of Debbie’s story and hear from her two consultants: www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/organ-donation/organ-donation-week-2025/

Don't forget to also confirm your own decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

18/09/2025

The Plastic Surgery team received a lovely ‘thank you’ recently.

“My mum attended the plastics clinic and subsequently had day surgery. Her treatment and care from all the staff was amazing. Everyone was so helpful, friendly and reassuring. We were very impressed with the hospital overall - it was clean, well signposted and staff in the corridors were willing to stop and help if you looked a bit lost.”

17/09/2025

Today marks and our teams joined together to host a stall outside the Swannery at Bedford Hospital.

This year’s slogan “Patient safety from the start!” was reflected in displays of patient feedback and information from the Quality and Safety Governance team about our Risk Management System. Our Paediatric and Maternity teams celebrated with trolley dashes and displays, handing out valuable information leaflets to visiting families. Our medication safety team and clinical safety team also marked the day with visits to clinical areas promoting safety updates and celebrating good clinical practice and compassionate care.

17/09/2025

A huge congratulations to Harpur Ward at Bedford Hospital for achieving their Silver ward accreditation!

The Activity Coordinator plays a key role in keeping patients engaged, and is spoken of highly by other staff. Team members were able to give examples of improvements made in response to patient feedback, such as introducing televisions.

All patients reported that they would recommend Harpur Ward to others needing care. They described their interactions with staff as genuine and heartfelt, rather than routine. Several patients remarked on the compassion shown by some staff in the way they delivered care.

Well done Harpur Ward!

16/09/2025

September is , an annual global campaign to help spread awareness of issues related to pain and pain management.

Our multidisciplinary pain teams at Bedfordshire Hospitals provide comprehensive, patient-centred care using a range of therapies, ensuring safe and effective pain management while enhancing the quality of life of our patients. The pain teams are currently working hard on numerous projects to continue improving quality and safety of their service.

If you live with persistent pain or are a career looking after someone with persistent pain please search 'Chronic Pain' on our website for useful resources.

15/09/2025

Two catering colleagues at Bedford Hospital partnered up and showcased their skills in the regional heats of the NHS Chef of the Year 2025.

Deputy Head Chef, Reneir Diolan (Tata) and Team Leader Chef, Dhanoop Thomas, proudly represented Bedfordshire Hospitals cooking exceptional dishes that followed challenging requirements; including budgets, allergies, cost and nutritional value.

Dhanoop talks about the experience: “I picked up so much knowledge about health eating and how to enhance our hospital’s food services.”

Tata said: “It’s our first experience competing and we are looking forward to next year’s competition to make history and gain recognition for our team.”

Read about their experience and the challenging requirements on our website: https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/news/catering-colleagues-at-bedford-hospital-compete-in-nhs-chef-of-the-year-2025/

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Kempston Road
Bedford
MK429DJ

Website

http://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/

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