The Government has today announced an investment of £6m in Bedfordshire CCG and Bedford Hospital NHS Trust. The local community around Bedfordshire will benefit from development of a healthcare hub (Gilbert Hitchcock House) providing integrated primary and community health and social care services, enabling patients to access services closer to home and relieve pressure on hospital-based activity.

North East Bedfordshire MP Alistair Burt said: “This investment has been long sought and is very good news. I am pleased for those GPs who inspired this and welcome the Government pulling these services together. As I recall from my time as Minister in the Department of Health, it is a long standing aim to improve GP practices, and this is an important investment in our local NHS services.”

The funding will be used to undertake the refurbishment of Gilbert Hitchcock House and allow for the co-location of 3 practices together with Community Health and Care services, Specialist and Mental Health services to create a hub for Central and North Bedfordshire. The hub will also provide additional capacity to support the significant housing led increase in population in Bedford Borough.

More details on the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-gets-funding-green-light-for-new-buildings-wards-and-beds

Source: https://www.alistair-burt.co.uk/news/ps6m-fund-new-bedfordshire-healthcare-hub