Care Advice Buckinghamshire is a centralised website designed to support adults requiring care, their carers, and families. It provides tools to:

• Find and evaluate local care services
• Access post-hospital and home support
• Understand and manage the financial aspects of care
• Locate transport options, public health info, and wellbeing support
• Keep carers informed and offer practical supports
• Report concerns and access emergency guidance

There are extensive downloadable guides and fact-sheets, plus a responsive helpdesk. It’s part of Buckinghamshire Council’s efforts to empower residents to plan, access, and manage adult care effectively!

The Bucks Care Services Directory contains information for adults looking for care or support, whether you are paying for it or receiving support from Bucks council.

Staying as independent as possible is important to everybody. This directory contact information about the care and support services available for enable you to do this when remaining at home, moving into a house with care scheme, or within a care home or care home with nursing.

If you think you need more formal care and support, arrange an assessment with the local adult social care department to establish your specific needs. This is free, irrespective of your income, and available to all those who appear to need care and support. The assessment will determine whether you are eligible for financial support.

Pre-diabetes means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classed as Type 2 diabetes.

Think of it as a warning sign – your body is showing that you’re at risk of developing diabetes in the future.

Often there are no symptoms at this stage, so you may not feel any different. Many people ask:

“Why me?”

Well, pre-diabetes is more common if:

• you’re a little less active than you’d like to be
• you’re carrying some extra weight
• you’re getting older
• diabetes runs in your family

You’re not alone – and the good news is there’s a lot you can do to reduce your risk.

We’re here to support you. The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is a free service designed especially for people with prediabetes.

With 1-to-1 coaching, group support, and personalised advice on food, movement and motivation, you can start making changes today that will protect your future health.

Join the Healthier You Programme

When you sign up, you’ll be asked for:

• your NHS number
• your height and weight
• your recent blood sugar level (HbA1c) and the date the test was done

You can usually find these details on the NHS App

Making small, steady changes can:

• improve your overall health and wellbeing
• reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes
• boost your energy levels
• help with weight management

If you register as a carer, it will enable us to support you in your caring role. What is offer can include the following:

• Annual Health Checks
• Annual Flu Jab and Covid-19 Boosters as advised
• Access to a Social Prescriber who may be able to support you in your caring role
• SIgnposting to other services that could help, such as support groups, days centres and respite care for the person you look after
• Help with advanced care planning for the person you care for
• Support with applying for assessment and benefit such as the carer’s assessment, carer’s allowance and blue badge parking

You do not have to register as a carer to access support and benefits such as a carer’s assessment, young carer’s assessment or Carer’s Allowance. However, if you do register, you may be offered support with these applications and assessments.

bSHaW offers a free and confidential sexual health service for people of all ages. Whether you need advice, testing, or treatment, the service is here to support your sexual health in a safe and understanding environment.

Services include:

• STI testing and treatment
• Full sexual health screenings
• Contraception advice and provision (including IUDs)
• Emergency Contraception
• Pregnancy testing and support
• Access to the free condom scheme

The clinics are staffed by friendly, sensitive professionals who understand that you may feel nervous or unsure—your comfort and confidentiality are always a priority.

You can access bSHaW services in two ways:

Walk-in at your local clinic in Aylesbury.

Book an appointment by calling 0300 303 2880

If you’re already taking the contraceptive pill—or looking to start for the first time—you can now access it through a confidential consultation at a participating local pharmacy.

The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service offers a convenient and discreet way to get your oral contraceptive pill, without needing to book a GP appointment.

Eligible patients can:

• Start or continue the contraceptive pill
• Be referred by their GP for an annual pill review
• Receive expert advice and ongoing support from trained pharmacists

This service helps you manage your contraception safely, easily, and close to home.

Face to Face Consultation

• Consult Pharmacy (HP20 1JR) – CLICK HERE to book your appointment!
• Wendover Pharmacy (HP22 6EA) – CLICK HERE to book your appointment!
• Jardines Pharmacy – CLICK HERE to book your appointment!

Telephone Consultation

• Jardines Pharmacy – CLICK HERE to book your appointment! (Have your BP and weight ready)

Book Your Appointment (patients aged 16yrs and above):

• You can book a blood test by speaking with a member of our reception team on 01296 320384
• Completing the online services form – click on the ‘Nurse Appointment‘ tile, then ‘I have been advised by a clinician to request a blood test‘

If you would like to have your blood test taken elsewhere, you have the option of booking in at the hospital blood clinics. You can book in at either Stoke Mandeville, Wycombe or Amersham Hospitals.

IMPORTANT: Please only book a blood test if you have been advised to do so by a clinician. If not, the blood test cannot be carried out.

Book Your Appointment (patients aged under 16yrs):

You can book a blood test by booking in at the specialist paediatric hospital blood clinics. You can book in at either Stoke Mandeville or Wycombe Hospitals.

Numbing cream can help reduce pain during a child’s blood test by temporarily numbing the skin at the injection site. This can make the procedure less painful and distressing for the child, potentially easing their anxiety and fear. Please ask us to prescribe numbing cream if needed.

Below is a useful video on how to apply the numbing cream before your child’s appointment.

IMPORTANT: Please only book a blood test if you have been advised to do so by a clinician. If not, the blood test cannot be carried out.

Typically no… however, your GP will advise you if there are any special instructions you need to follow before your blood test. Depending on the type of test, you may occasionally be asked to:

• Fast before the test: This means avoiding all food and drink (except water) from midnight before your appointment. Fasting helps ensure that what you eat or drink does not affect your test results.
• Pause certain medications: You might be asked to temporarily stop taking specific medications if there is a possibility they could influence the test outcome.

If you have a fear of needles or find it difficult to give a blood sample, please inform the nurse. They will understand and do their best to support you throughout the process.

Important: Please only book a blood test if you have been advised to do so by a clinician. If not, the blood test cannot be carried out.

The practice conducts blood tests every weekday (excluding days we are closed) in the morning.

In most circumstances we can only conduct blood tests in the morning as the samples are transported to the lab shortly after midday.

The NHS now makes it easier to get help for common medical conditions through Pharmacy First. Community pharmacists can treat patients without needing a visit to the doctor, allowing for quicker access to care and appropriate medicines (such as antibiotics) for minor illnesses. It is a free service.

You don’t need to wait to see your doctor and you don’t need an appointment.

The service can be used to treat the following conditions:

Face to Face Consultation

• Your local community pharmacist is able to treat the above conditions – you can simply walk in and request a face to face consultation
• Consult Pharmacy (HP20 1JR) – CLICK HERE to book your appointment!
• Wendover Pharmacy (HP22 6EA) – CLICK HERE to book your appointment!
• Jardines Pharmacy – CLICK HERE to book your appointment!

Video Consultation

• Jardines Pharmacy – CLICK HERE to book your appointment!
• My Local Surgery – CLICK HERE to book your appointment!

Finding out you are pregnant when it wasn’t planned, or if your circumstances have changed, can be a difficult and emotional experience. We want you to know that you are not alone—support is available, and the decision about what happens next is entirely yours. Our priority is to ensure you have access to safe, confidential, and non-judgmental care. You do not need a referral from a GP to access abortion services; you can contact any of the NHS-funded providers below directly to discuss your options, ask questions, or book a consultation.

MSI Reproductive Choices (formerly Marie Stopes) MSI is a leading provider of sexual and reproductive healthcare with over 40 years of experience. They offer a choice of medical (pill) and surgical abortions, along with counseling and 24-hour support. You can self-refer by calling their helpline or booking a consultation online. For patients in our area, MSI has local community treatment centers in Chesham and Oxford, as well as other locations across the South East.

24-hour support line: 0345 300 8090

Website: www.msichoices.org.uk

NUPAS (National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service) NUPAS is a specialist provider known for its compassionate and holistic approach to care. They offer flexible appointment times, including consultations 7 days a week (8am–8pm). NUPAS is a particularly convenient local option for our patients, with a clinic based directly in Aylesbury (Haddenham Medical Centre) that offers both medical and surgical procedures. They also provide “pills by post” for early medical abortions at home.

Booking & Advice: 0333 004 6666

Website: www.nupas.co.uk

BPAS (British Pregnancy Advisory Service) BPAS is the UK’s leading abortion care charity, advocating for women’s reproductive choices for over 50 years. They provide comprehensive care, including STI testing, contraception, and specialist counseling for those who are undecided or need extra support.

Booking & Advice: 03457 30 40 30

Website: www.bpas.org

One Recovery Bucks is our local support service for those impacted by their own or someone else’s use of alcohol and drugs. They provide a confidential, free and easy-to-access service to anyone living in Bucks.

At One Recovery Bucks, they believe individuals are capable of changing their lives for the better. They are committed to help you do this by providing high quality, evidence-based services.

If you are concerned and looking for some advice or support then please call or refer yourself online.

Physiotherapists provide a wide range of services for any joint/muscle/ligament associated pain, sports injury rehabilitation, women’s health physiotherapy advice and treatment.

Practice Plus Group MSK is the provider of NHS physiotherapy in our area. If you are 16 years old or over, you can now refer yourself to a local NHS physiotherapy service directly thorough our new self-referral service – there’s no need to get a GP appointment first. Patients under the age of 16 years old will need a GP referral.

You can self-refer for physiotherapy by completing this form. Then send it back to practiceplusgrp.music-referrals@nhs.net or post it to: Unit 2, The Merlin Centre, Cressex Business Park, Lancaster Rd, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 3QL

NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies (formerly Healthy Minds) is an NHS psychological service which was established in 2008. They have helped thousands of people each year cope more effectively with their depression and anxiety.

They offer you a range of free NHS, tried and tested psychological therapies which follow a stepped care model. We use this model to decide which type of treatment is currently most clinically appropriate for you.

What are your treatment options?

After you self-refer, you will undergo an assessment, after which your treatment options and next steps are discussed with you. For more details on the treatment options available at NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies, please visit their Getting Help page.

Qwell is a free online space where adults (18 and over) in Bucks can find help and support for their mental wellbeing.

Explore helpful articles, videos and podcasts whenever it suits you. There’s also a journal to help you track your thoughts and feelings, plus a goal tracker to set personal goals and see how you’re getting on.