6 minute read
Health Centre
WELCOMETOTHE HEALTH CENTRE We provide Health Care services to the pupils seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day during term time.The team of Health Care Practitioners are available for routine clinics through to medical emergencies.We have eight beds in the Health Centre. In addition to the expected medical provision, we can help with general health support and advice, and use a holistic approach in the delivery of care. We provide health education through a variety of means, including 1:1 and small group discussions, alongside patient information leaflets and health education resources which are available for pupils to take away.
We encourage parents to meet the staff in the Health Centre at the beginning of a child’ s first term and discuss any concerns they may have about their child’ s health. Please disclose any ongoing health issues for your child or past significant events.
Advertisement
All new boarders are invited to a medical and any pupil with pre-existing medical conditions e.g. asthma/diabetes will be referred to the School Doctor shortly after joining the School.
General Information It is School policy that a pupil cannot keep their own medication. Some pupils are able to self- administer in house but this is only after agreement with a member of the Health CentreTeam. All medication needs to be handed into the Health Centre and we will arrange for the pupil to access them as necessary.Your support in this matter is vital for the individual and the wider School community.
Services We hold three General Practitioner Clinics per week within the Health Centre, these appointments are booked by the Health Centre staff and are available to all boarders and any day pupils who are registered with the Oakhill Surgery (https://www.oakhillsurgery.co.uk/).All boarders will be registered at Oakhill Surgery at the start of their time at Downside.
Asthma All pupils with Asthma will be offered the opportunity to attend regular Asthma reviews with the Practice Nurse at Oakhill Surgery. Physiotherapy The School provides access to a private Sports Injury Specialist who is able to meet with pupils at a time to suit them and who will liaise directly with parents.There is also access to the NHS Physiotherapy Service for those who would prefer.
School Psychotherapist The School provides access to a Consultant Psychotherapist who runs weekly ‘drop-in ’ clinic ’ sTuesday andWednesday afternoons and by appointment at other times.This is a confidential service and allows pupils the opportunity to address any issues which may be impacting on their Emotional Health andWellbeing.
Accidents We can arrange for pupils to be seen at the Minor Injuries Unit in Shepton Mallet or at the Emergency Department in Bath, if necessary. During the Michaelmas term, a paramedic is available every Saturday by the sports pitches at Downside School.
Off Games or Restricted Games If you have a concern regarding your child’ s fitness for games, please contact the Health Centre.We are able to give permission for a pupil to be off games if they are unwell or have sustained an injury. Please can you inform the Health Centre of any accidents or incidents during the holiday that require further care and please send any supporting documentation.
Admission to the Health Centre If a pupil is unwell during term time they may have to stay overnight in the Health Centre.This will be decided after being assessed by the Health Care Practitioner in charge. The parent or guardian will be informed.
Prescriptions If your child has a regular prescription, please can it be in the original packaging, clearly prescribed to the child and have a supporting consultant’ s or doctor ’ s letter attached. We order repeat and new prescriptions and collect them from the surgery when they are ready. If your child requires regular medication which is on repeat prescription, we ask that you share any information regarding the diagnosis at the time of application to ensure the Health Centre are able to support this when required.
Confidentiality and Consent As Health Care Practitioners, we work under a Professional Code of Conduct, which states we offer a confidential service to patients in our care. However, if information has been disclosed which indicates that a pupil is at risk of harm /or is at risk of harming another we have a duty of care to share that information as part of our Safeguarding Practice. The pupil’ s consent is not required in these circumstances, but we will always try to discuss it with the pupil first.
Health Needs When a pupil first joins the School the parent will already have filled out and returned the medical history and signed consent forms for treatment and medication. Please update the Health Centre as a matter of priority, if your child develops a medical condition, illness or injury during the course of their time spent in the School. If the medical condition, illness or injury occurs during a school holiday, please make sure to inform the Health Centre staff before your child returns to School.
Vaccinations The Health Centre runs a vaccination programme in line with the NHS routine immunisation schedule.Any gaps identified in your child’ s immunisation history will be discussed with you and/or your child.Travel vaccinations are available through the local surgery and parents are asked to fill out a travel health questionnaire and a consent form six weeks before travel.All pupils with a chronic illness e.g. asthma, diabetes, will be offered a yearly flu vaccination free of charge. Other pupils will be offered this vaccination for a small fee. Dental Care There is no School dentist, but the School includes all pupils in the Denplan insurance scheme at £2.00 per pupil per term to cover all emergency dental treatment including broken braces. Boarders are expected to have routine dental treatment at home in the holidays.
Sports Mouthguards All pupils will need a mouth guard for contact sports. These can be of the self-mouldable form, but the School offers a professional fitting service at the start of the MichaelmasTerm, provided by OPRO. Parents wishing to take up the OPRO service must confirm this direct with OPRO via the web link provided in the online Downside School Joining Forms. These can be found on the School Uniform information on the website.
Sun Protection We recommend that pupils provide their own sun protection lotion, no less than SPF30 for sports and on school trips during the warm weather.
Transport Transport to medical appointments is organised through the Health Centre. Pupils will be accompanied by an official school escort (DBS checked) either in a taxi or transported via the escort, parents will be billed for any travel costs incurred.Alternatively, if parents live locally they may wish to take their son/daughter themselves.
The NHS (National Health Service) for pupils with Eu Settlement Scheme or Child StudentVisa For pupils who are currently under the EU Settlement Scheme, please note that you will be entitled to use the NHS Services. For those who are studying in the UK with a Child StudentVisa, you will have been asked at the time of application to pay a healthcare surcharge as part of the application process which entitles your child to access the NSH and wider services.
Contact: HCentre@downside.co.uk