Toggle Site Contrast

Bedfordshire Integrated Community Diabetes Service

The Bedfordshire Integrated Community Diabetes (ICDS) Service has the following aims:

To provide a high standard of specialised care for individuals with diabetes and their families, from a multi-disciplinary team
To provide a greater range of seamless diabetes services closer to patients’ homes
To support and empower people with diabetes to manage their diabetes effectively
To improve patient access to the diabetes services
To improve communication and closer working with GPs and other community services

The ICDS team, supervised by a consultant diabetologist, includes diabetes specialist nurses and dietitians and a community support worker.

The team will be offering individual clinic and group appointments at community health centres and GP surgeries ensuring greater ease of access to services, whilst maintaining the highest standards.

The service will be provided by Luton and Dunstable University Hospital and Bedford Hospital.

This is an innovative and ground-breaking service with two general hospitals working together to provide one ‘unified’ service for the patients of NHS Bedfordshire.

Unexpected closure of lifts in Beeden House and reduced lift capacity in the Main Block, Bedford Hospital

Beeden House

We have had to make the difficult decision to close both lifts in Beeden House after finding an unexpected fault during routine maintenance.

This means that there will be disruption to services and appointments on the upper floors of Beeden House.

We are currently contacting patients to find the best individual solution for them, minimise disruption and ensure they continue to receive the care they need. At this point you do not need to contact us, we will contact all affected patients.

The decision to close the lifts was hard, but we felt it was the safest decision to best protect our patients and staff.

Reduced lift capacity in the Main Block

Please be aware our lifts in the Main Block currently have reduced capacity. In order to maintain lift functions and minimise traffic in the remaining lifts, we will be prioritising high priority movements.

Staff, patients and visitors can access the main block lifts if required, but may be asked to wait at main reception while other priority movements are made. A minimum of 4 people will be required before the lift departs. Security staff operating the lifts will be mindful that not all disabilities are visible and make appropriate accommodations for non-ambulant staff and visitors.

We apologise for the inconvenience the closure of lifts and reduced lift capacity will cause.

Thank you to everyone for your patience and support.