Enter and view: Biggleswade Health Centre

Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire undertook an announced enter and view visit to Biggleswade Health Partnership on 21 August 2025 in response to patient feedback about booking appointments and repeat prescriptions.  They spoke to 9 people.

Saffron Health Partnership provides care for a community of over 12,000 patients at Biggleswade Health Centre and nearly 22,000 patients across its three sites. The surgery is modern, clean, and accessible, featuring well-maintained facilities, step-free access, accessible toilets, a baby-changing area, and an isolation room. Reception and waiting areas are spacious, comfortable, and welcoming, with clear internal signage and patient information displays. 

Staff were observed to be professional, polite, and supportive, contributing to a positive and reassuring environment for patients. Team members reported high job satisfaction and described a collaborative and cohesive working culture. This positive organisational climate is likely to enhance patient experience, as motivated and well-supported staff can deliver care that is both responsive and compassionate. 

Patients generally reported feeling listened to, involved in decisions, and confident in the care they received. Waiting times were typically under 20 minutes, supporting timely access to clinicians. The practice offers a wide range of services, including specialist clinics, home visits for housebound patients, and extended access appointments, ensuring that care is responsive to varying needs within the community. 

However, patient access remains inconsistent. Some individuals reported difficulties contacting the surgery by telephone or booking preferred GP appointments online, particularly for adult patients, resulting in potential delays and frustration when seeking care. Increasing clinical capacity, particularly through the recruitment of additional nursing staff, would help manage demand, reduce waiting times, and improve continuity of care.