The essential health guide for University students

1. Make sure carbon monoxide detectors are fitted as required.
2. Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning (they may mimic food poisoning, viral infections, flu or simple tiredness). Your landlord should provide an annual Gas Safety Record (Gas Safety Certificate) for all appliances.
3. Ensure your landlord uses a Gas Safe Registered engineer to do any gas work in your home. If in doubt, or for further advice, contact:

• University Accommodation Office
• Health and Safety Executive 
• HSE Gas Safety Advice Line 0800 300 363

Source: British Gas

Please go to www.nhs.uk/service-search/ to direct you to your nearest service below:

• Pharmacy
• Minor injuries unit (MIU)
• Walk in centre
• Sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic
• A&E
• Dentist – make sure you register with a dentist

Ring 999 only if it’s an emergency (e.g. choking; chest pain; blacking out; heavy blood loss).  When out and about make sure your mobile phone is fully charged. Avoid any situations which might put you in danger.

Check our page for more advice and details at https://scasyouth.co.uk/be-prepared-with-ape/

 

You must register with a GP either at the University’s Health Service or with a local GP Practice. Find out more at Getting medical care as a student.

Do not mistake symptoms of meningitis as being ‘just Freshers Flu’. Check on the link below for symptoms and other important info.  For suspected meningitis ring 999.

If you are not sure ring 111 (both are a 24 hour service and their numbers are free).  Many students are requested to be up-to-date on their British vaccination schedule before starting University. For details, go to www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/men-acwy-vaccine.

For information and other details, go to www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/student-mental-health/.

Ring 111 if you need advice or an assessment.

Also check our pages on mental health:

https://scasyouth.co.uk/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/

https://scasyouth.co.uk/suicide-the-thing-most-likely-to-kill-me-is-me/

https://scasyouth.co.uk/self-harm/

https://scasyouth.co.uk/face-up-to-depression/

https://scasyouth.co.uk/the-nightmare-of-eating-disorders/

https://scasyouth.co.uk/living-with-the-bipolar-stigma/

 

Do you know where to collect prescriptions from in your new area? What are their opening times? Check these out before your medication is due for renewal.  www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Pharmacy

A

• Advice on sexual health – Sexual health or (GUM) clinics
• Allergies  – Pharmacy/GP
• Asthma – GP

B

• Blood pressure monitoring – Pharmacy
• Blood test – GP

C

• Cervical smear – GP
• Contraceptive advice/problems inc. free condoms – Contraception clinics
• Contraceptive pill (first time starting or to change the pill you are on)  – GP
• Contraceptive pill repeat – GP
• Cuts – MIUs/Walk-in Centre

D

• Diabetes – GP
• Diarrhoea – Pharmacy

E

• Ear infection/blocked ear – Pharmacy (see www.nhs.uk/conditions/earinfections)
• Emergency contraception – Contraception clinics; sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics ; most NHS walk-in centres and minor injuries units; most pharmacies

I

• Insect and animal bites – MIUs/Walk-in-centre

M

• Minor:
  • burns – MIUs/Walk-in-centre
  • eye injuries – MIUs/Walk-in-centre
  • head injuries – MIUs/Walk-in-centre
  • illnesses (e.g. flu, coughs, colds, high fever, sore throat)  – Pharmacy
  • injuries to back, shoulder and chest – MIUs/Walk-in-centre

R

• Rash – 111
• Rape and sexual assault – 111 (NHS) / 101 (Police) / Sexual assault referral centres /.  In an emergency dial 999
• Runny nose – Pharmacy

S

• Smoking cessation advice – Stop Smoking service 
• Sprains and Strains – MIUs/Walk-in Centre

T

• Travel immunisation – GP/NHS 111

U

• Unplanned pregnancy – Sexual health or (GUM) clinics
• Urine infection/cystitis – Pharmacy (see www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cystitis/)

V

• Vomiting – GP

W

• Wound dressings – Pharmacy/Walk-in-centre