A £24 million development at Gilbert Hitchcock House will create a new much-needed health hub at Bedford Hospital’s North Wing.
The project will deliver a primary care hub in the Enhanced Services Centre (ESC) which will see the co-location of the De Parys GP practices and a number of community services that the Trust hopes will ensure patients have improved access to high-quality primary care services.
The primary care hub will also offer diagnostic services including phlebotomy, MRI, CT, ultrasound, x-ray and cardiology.
Last Thursday (15 February), Bedford & Kempston MP Mohammed Yasin met with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust leaders to discuss plans for the new centre at the Bedford North Wing site.
Mr Yasin met with Richard Sumray, Chair of Bedfordshire Hospitals and Melanie Banks, Director of Redevelopment who said they were hoping the plans will receive the Hospital Trust Board’s approval by the end of this month.
Construction is expected to start in April with completion planned by the end of 2025.
Following the meeting, Mohammad Yasin MP said: “I have been pressing for improved services at Bedford Hospital for over 5 years so I’m delighted to hear that plans to transform the North Wing site into a hub for community-based primary and secondary care, which will improve access and outcomes for patients are well underway.
“Waiting times to access a GP are unsustainable.
“We know the consequences of delayed diagnosis, so I have been calling for an improved focus on primary care and prevention. The new community-based facilities should alleviate the pressure off our hospital sites and mean patients can access the right care at the right time.”
