The prospect of nursing a poorly child can be a pretty horrifying one – but health services in Bucks are trying to keep the frights at bay this Halloween, by offering information and advice at two supernaturally special events this half-term week.

Representatives from NHS Aylesbury Vale and NHS Chiltern Clinical Commissioning Groups will be at shopping centres to tell people about the Health Help Now online service, which offers advice and guidance on where to seek treatment for all sorts of illness and injuries. They will also be giving out information on common childhood conditions – all aiming to help your little monsters stay fit and well as we head towards winter.

They will be at Friars Square Shopping Centre in Aylesbury from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday, 26 October and then at the Eden shopping centre in High Wycombe (we are expecting to be outside the Gap store in the ‘new’ part of the centre), from 10am to 4pm on Friday, 28 October.

They will be easy to spot, with some monstrously cute cardboard cut-out characters to grab your attention – Frankie and his new bride Zilla. There may also be a few goodies being given away.

Dr Dal Sahota, Chiltern CCG’s Clinical Director for Maternity, said: “Dealing with poorly children can be difficult no matter what time of year it is – but with winter coming, there will be lots of illnesses and infections going around. Knowing how to cope with them and when to seek help from the right healthcare service is really important. Our Health Help Now web service is a fantastic source of information, not only for helping children, but for people of all ages. So please come along and find out more this half term week.”

To use Health Help Now, simply go to www.bucks.healthhelpnow.nhs.uk

Pictured, l-r: High Wycombe Mayor Zia Ahmed, Buckinghamshire County Councillor Mike Appleyard, Dr Rashmi Sawhney and Dr Raj Bajwa

Members of the business community joined charity representatives, faith leaders and health and social care workers to celebrate the launch of High Wycombe’s bid to become a Dementia Friendly Community.

Around 70 people attended the event at High Wycombe Library on 28 September, which aimed to get them involved in boosting public awareness of the impact dementia can have on people’s lives. The Dementia Friendly initiative helps communities work together to respond in a more supportive way to people living with the condition.

The project is being driven by NHS Aylesbury Vale and NHS Chiltern Clinical Commissioning Groups in partnership with Buckinghamshire County Council, and is led by Dr Rashmi Sawhney, Clinical Lead for High Wycombe.

Among the many attendees were High Wycombe Mayor Zia Ahmed, Buckinghamshire County Councillor Mike Appleyard and Dr Raj Bajwa, Clinical Chair for Chiltern CCG.

A key part of the project is to encourage people to seek earlier diagnosis if they are concerned about their memory, and also to raise awareness of the condition among members of all communities living within the High Wycombe area.

Dr Sawhney said: “It was wonderful to see our launch event so well-attended by so many members of Wycombe’s diverse population, including representatives of our African, Caribbean, South Asian and Polish communities to mention a few. We hope people went away with the same determination we have – to make High Wycombe truly ‘Dementia Friendly’.

“We have an ageing population in Bucks, so raising awareness and improving our understanding of dementia is hugely important for all our communities, both now and in the future. By working together we can help people living with dementia enjoy secure, fulfilled lives for longer.”

For advice about dementia, contact your GP or get in touch with the Buckinghamshire Memory Support Service on 01296 331749 or email memorysupport@alzheimers.org.uk