Toggle Site Contrast

Please be aware, the information on this page relates to Bedford Hospital

Please be aware, the information on this page relates to GPs referring to Bedford Hospital only.

Children’s Assessment Unit – GP Referral Guidance

Children’s Assessment Unit – GP Referral Guidance

The Children’s Assessment Unit (CAU) at Bedford Hospital is open 24 hours a day, seeing acutely unwell children and babies.

Children can be referred here from the Children’s Emergency Department or from their GP.

If you are a GP wishing to make an acute referral, please call Bedford Hospital switchboard (01234 355122) and ask for the: Paediatric Registrar Referral Phone on ext. 6809 or bleep 605.

Please bear in mind that the call may not be answered immediately as the Registrar may already be with another patient.

If you cannot get through via these numbers, contact CAU direct on 01234 355122 ext. 4099 to make your referral.

If you consistently find you are unable to refer, please escalate to the Paediatric Matron on ext. 6191 or the CAU manager ext. 6367 if either of these routes fail.

Please avoid sending the child into the unit without making the appropriate referral first, as this potentially places the child at risk.

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.