Our latest updates

Between 30 October to 9 November 2023, an inspection of HMP Bedford took place. This involved the CQC working with HMIP to inspect the NHFT healthcare services at the prison. The wider report, which looks at the full provision at HMP Bedford has been released today and highlights a number of improvements to be made across the Prison. 

Having a voice at the highest level, and to champion healthcare for those in the justice system, is part of a new role taken on by a leading psychologist in Northamptonshire. 

Dr Sunil Lad, a Consultant Counselling Psychologist at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT), has just taken on the role of National Clinical Director for Health and Justice.   

On 12 May, to celebrate International Nurses' Day, our very own Palliative Care Specialist Nurse Maria O'Neill was invited to be part of an event held at Bury St Edmunds Catherdral. 

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) is a long-term partner of iWantGreatCare (iWGC) and uses iWGC across all its mental health and community services to listen to what service users are saying and use this insight to make quality improvements and build a ‘patient first’ culture within the organisation.

Since joining the trust on 1 April 2021, so much has changed for me. I started my journey with NHFT as a TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) ) member of staff, moving over from another organisation. I moved over to NHFT as a Recovery co-ordinator at HMP Peterborough, which I had been for the past five and half years. Moving over to the trust and becoming a part of the NHS evoked several changes to become accustomed to, but after a short while, myself and the team openly embraced these.

Anthony Blades has been appointed as the new Interim Service Director for  Specialist and Secured Services for the forthcoming year.

The assumption of working in a prison is one of facing threats, violence and intimidation on a daily basis. From my experience this couldn't be further from the truth, the days can be filled with laughter and gratitude.

TeamNHFT’s Lead GP at Her Majesty Prison (HMP) Bedford, Dr Caroline Watson, has been elected as Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Secure Environments Group from March 2022.  

Our Consultant Counselling Psychologist, Dr Sunil Lad on compassion

Secured Services are now running a Reconnect service in HMP Bedford and HMP Peterborough. Reconnect is a new pilot project commissioned by NHSE for 24 months and is part of the National project to improve health outcomes for people released from prison.