- Prison healthcare
HMP Bedford
Assessment report published 30 June 2025
Contents
Judgements
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: 8 April to 16 April 2025. This included a site visit on 8 April and 9 April 2025.
HMP Bedford is a Category B, reception and resettlement prison. The prison is located in Bedford and accommodates up to 400 adult male prisoners. The healthcare services are provided by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) trust.
We carried out a joint inspection with His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in August 2024, where we found the quality of healthcare required improvement. We issued an action plan request in relation to breaches of regulation found relating to safe care and treatment (for patients assessed and/or treated by the mental health team) as well as concerns relating to governance.
The purpose of this focused assessment was to determine if the provider was now meeting the legal requirements of the relevant regulations. At this assessment, we assessed 7 quality statements across the safe, effective, responsive and well-led key questions. We found some improvements had been made but more work needed to be done. We also had new concerns raised with us prior to and during the assessment.
At this assessment, we found 3 breaches of regulation. The provider remained in breach of the legal regulation in relation to safe care and treatment and governance. The provider was now in breach of regulation in relation to staffing.
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 provider must:
-Ensure that all known incidents are reported in accordance with trust policy.
-Ensure that patients with identified needs are referred and assessed in accordance with timescales.
-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.
-Ensure that patients receive care and treatment for their condition in a timely manner.
In instances where CQC has decided to take civil or criminal enforcement action against a provider, we will publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded.