Bedford Borough’s mayor has written to the Health Secretary to raise “urgent concerns” about the future resilience of local hospital services, warning that patient safety and access could be compromised without major investment.
In a letter to Wes Streeting, mayor Tom Wootton said residents were anxious following a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of maternity services in Bedford borough, which he said found the service to be inadequate.
Read: CQC finds “little change” as Bedford maternity services remain ‘inadequate’
“Patient safety must always come first,” the Conservative mayor said, “The CQC findings have understandably caused anxiety for expectant families across Bedford borough.
“While I recognise the dedication and hard work of frontline NHS staff, the inspection points to systemic issues that must be addressed urgently and transparently to restore public confidence.”
The mayor also highlighted the potential impact of the East West Rail project on access to Bedford Hospital, warning that construction disruption and the anticipated loss of car parking capacity could significantly affect patients, visitors and staff.
“Bedford Hospital serves a wide catchment area, including many people who rely on private transport due to mobility needs, caring responsibilities, or limited public transport options,” he said.
“Access to healthcare must not be compromised.”
Read: Council unanimously opposes East West Rail’s car park relocation plans
Looking ahead, the mayor warned that major planned housing growth across the borough, including the proposed new town at Tempsford, will place additional strain on already stretched health services.
This growth is expected to coincide with the opening of the new Universal theme park, which is estimated to attract around 8.5 million visitors to the area each year.
Calls for joined-up planning
“The scale and pace of development we are facing is unprecedented,” the mayor said.
“Without timely and properly funded investment in healthcare infrastructure, there is a real risk that services will struggle to keep up, to the detriment of both patients and staff.”
The mayor called for joined-up planning between local government, the NHS and central government, stressing that healthcare infrastructure must be delivered before, or at the very least alongside, major expansion.
“Failure to plan properly now risks storing up far greater problems for the future,” he added.
The mayor has formally requested a meeting with the Secretary of State to discuss practical solutions to ensure hospital services in Bedford borough are safe, accessible and fit for the future.
The mayor’s office said MPs Richard Fuller (Conservative), Mohammad Yasin (Labour) and Blake Stephenson (Conservative) were copied into the correspondence and invited to take part in discussions.
In response, East West Rail said it was determined to minimise disruption during construction and was in regular contact with the hospital and council.
Parking that meets people’s needs
A spokesperson said: “We are profoundly aware of the importance of providing parking spaces that meet the needs of people working at and visiting Bedford Hospital.
“Under our plans, the hospital will not lose any permanent car parking spaces, and we will deliver a purpose-built multi-storey car park which will cover the number of spaces lost.”
They added that alternative spaces would be provided before main railway construction begins, and that temporary parking solutions are also being developed.
East West Rail said it was working closely with the hospital and Bedford Borough Council to ensure visitors, staff and patients can access services safely during the works.
The Department of Health and Social Care and Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were approached for comment, but did not respond at the time of publication.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
