Archived News - Health
Full of Life Festival - 10th October 2013
Bikeability Project 2013
Source: Central Bedfordshire Council
Strong support for new Leighton Hospital
Central Bedfordshire Council is backing a proposal that could see a community hospital opening in Leighton Buzzard.
On Friday members of the Central Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Planning Committee gave their backing to a revised core strategy for Luton and the south of Central Bedfordshire, including the towns of Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Leighton Linslade.
The draft strategy includes proposals for a total of 15,000 new homes in the Southern Bedfordshire area between 2011 and 2026, and the creation of more than 28,000 jobs across the area.
The proposed development would fall into the category of sustainable development and as such new health facilities would need to be incorporated into any plans to cater for the community.
The hospital idea has been promoted by Leighton Linslade Town Council and could be situated on land to the east of Leighton Buzzard as part of developments which would see 2,500 new houses built as part of the East Leighton Buzzard Masterplan for the town.
Although there is no clear definition of what a community hospital is, the Department of Health's set out detailed design principles which bids for new community hospitals should satisfy. These stated that services should:
- be locally led;
- provide high quality services;
- re-design patient pathways;
- anticipate future needs as the population changes;
- adopt new technologies;
- plan across primary and secondary care;
- be affordable for the whole health economy;
- promote integrated service solutions;
- engage and harness the potential of staff;
- enable the transition of staff; and
- engage the public, the whole health and social care system and be innovative.
The decision about whether a community hospital will be developed lies with NHS Bedfordshire although a recent white paper on health means that more decision making on a local level will be made by GPs. A local 'health and wellbeing board' is also set to be established to ensure a co-ordination of services between the Primary Care Trust and GPs.
Cllr Tricia Turner MBE, Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council said: "The council is working closely with a wide range of community interests in Leighton Buzzard, including the PCT, to promote better primary care in the town.
"We are actively engaged with the Town Council in developing the Town Centre Masterplan that we hope will reveal options for sites to be considered by the community.
"Central Bedfordshire Council continues to support the delivery of the identified need for improved primary care to be provided to meet the needs for new infrastructure and facilities in Leighton Buzzard as part of delivering sustainable growth.
"Leighton Buzzard is one of the largest towns not to have a community hospital and following the decision of the Central Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Planning Committee to endorse a revised core strategy for Luton and the south of Central Bedfordshire, I believe it is important that residents and future residents of the town receive this important facility."
Source: Central Bedfordshire News Release, 29th July 2010
Ridesafe Assessments For Motorcyclists
Invitation to all Motorcyclists
You are invited to get your riding assessed for FREE with a Bedfordshire Police Advanced Motorcyclist to get expert and impartial feedback on what you do well and where you may be able to could improve your skills.
This is part of the Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership's 'Motorcycle Training Matters' initiative to reduce the casualty toll amongst motorcyclist. One in four serious injury road traffic collisions involves a motorcyclist. Some are due to rider error, and some are due to other road users' errors. In either case, we believe that better, defensive riding skills will help reduce motorcyclists' risk of being involved in a collision.
Find out more or book a place by visiting www.MotorcyclingMatters.org/RideSafe/.
RideSafe dates:
- Kempston 20th June
- Luton 4th July
- Kempston 8th August
- Kempston 3rd October
Caryl Jones
Communications Manager
Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership
PO Box 412
Bedford
telephone: 01234 716335
www.DriveSafely.org
Source: Ringmaster Bedfordshire
Department of Health Advice during a Heatwave
The document Looking After Yourself and Others During Hot Weather provides information on the symptoms of the effects of heat, what actions to take and top tips for keeping cool.
Source: Voluntary and Community Action
Chiropodist opens a new clinic
A local chiropodist opens her new surgery today in Eaton Bray.
The new service, 'Eaton Bray Chiropody', is based within the Trading Faces Hair and Beauty Salon in Wallace Drive. The chiropodist providing it will be Hilary Tomlinson (MSSCh MBChA), who is registered with the Health Professions Council.
Hilary will also be treating new patients at the existing Leighton Chiropody Practice in Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard, from September, where she has provided locum cover for the last 10 years.
She started as a Registered Nurse who subsequently qualified as a chiropodist and has been in domiciliary practice for 14 years in this locality. Appointments can be booked with Hilary at Eaton Bray Chiropody on (01525) 229111, and at the Leighton Chiropody Practice on (01525) 382900.
Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 7 August 2007