The Care Quality Commission
  • Prison healthcare

HMP Bedford

St Loyes Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 1HG

Provided and run by:
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We accompanied His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) on their independent review of progress and carried out a focused inspection of healthcare services provided by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) trust at HMP Bedford. HMP Bedford is a Category B, reception and resettlement prison. At our last joint inspection with HMIP in November 2023, we found that the quality of healthcare provided by The Trust at this location required improvement. We issued Requirement Notices in relation to Regulation 10 Dignity and Respect as well as Regulation 11 Need for Consent, of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. We also identified concerns in relation to Regulation 17, Good Governance and Regulation 12, Safe Care and Treatment. The purpose of this focused assessment was to determine if the healthcare services provided by the Trust were meeting the legal requirements of the relevant regulations. At this assessment, we found that improvements had been made, and the Trust was no longer in breach of regulations 10 and 11 but we found them in breach of regulations 12 and 17. We do not currently rate services provided in prisons. We highlight good practice and issues that service providers need to improve and take regulatory action as necessary. Musts The trust must - Ensure that all known incidents are reported in accordance with trust policy. - Ensure that incidents of self-harm relating to mental health are discussed at relevant governance committees and learned from. - Ensure that patients with identified mental health needs are referred and assessed in accordance with timescales. - Ensure that patients displaying mental ill-health are accepted onto the caseload. - Ensure care plans and risk assessments are clear and reflect the risks and needs of the patient. - Ensure that where patients require intervention, these are clearly documented and provision made to offer these interventions.

26 and 27 April 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 26 & 27 April 2017. The purpose of the inspection was to confirm that the service provider, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous joint inspection with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons between 16 & 19 May 2016 and in the Requirement Notice that we issued on the 6 October 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • Night time monitoring arrangements for prisoners with drug and or alcohol dependency needs had significantly improved.
  • Secondary health assessments now took place in one of two areas, both of which provided an environment which maintained patient confidentiality.
  • An inpatient unit pathway was now in place, which meant that only prisoners with identified clinical needs should be admitted to the unit.
  • Access arrangements to dental clinics had significantly improved and prisoners had access to a fully operational modern dental suite.
  • The standard of cleanliness within the inpatient unit had significantly improved as had the standard of cleanliness across wing based treatment rooms.