The NHS is often spoken of like a particularly good and frightening ghost story around the campfire. If by campfire we mean a fake fireplace in your living room. Alhough often nothing has happened personally to anyone, people share stories -- their voices lowering to whispers -- of that person who they heard was infected with MRSA or -- disbelieving gasps! -- that woman who has had her leg amputated by mistake.

The horror stories about the NHS are just that: horror stories. It can be an imperfect organisation, hampered by being a political football as well as financial and organisational limitations. However, healthcare works in many more cases than it doesn't. It is undoubtedly and definitely better than nothing if you need help.

With that in mind, enjoy these Halloween-themed health-related happenings, keeping in mind their rarity and the continuing effort to fight for better standards of healthcare in and out of the NHS:

• Bats have invaded a hospital in Dundee. It does seem a shame to expel them from the premises, as they were only moving in time and in preparation for All Hallow's Eve. The bats should put in a complaint about discrimination against their species: the casual disregard of the sacrosanct nature of creatures surrounding popular holidays -- even apparently secular in nature -- should not be tolerated.
• The witches -- sorry, the alternative therapists -- now have their familiars registering to practice in association with their selves. The first familiar to join these licensed practitioners is, of course, a cat. His name is George. So what talents would a cat have?

  Go on, guess.

  He is a hypnotherapist.

  Look into George the Cat's eyes.

  You will have a Happy Halloween.

  You will have a Happy Halloween.

  You will have a Happy Halloween.

Image credits:
Halloween Hospital -- Jascha Hoste
Bats & Cats -- Jade Gordon