Occupational Health support for students

Please note this does NOT apply to Edge Hotel students. 

Prior to the start of your course, you will be sent an online questionnaire to complete. Please complete this as soon as possible to avoid any issues or delays to your clearance.

The questionnaire asks about your health and fitness, mentally and physically. This information is used to identify any potential health issues which may impact on fitness to undertake the course or placement. Any questionnaires with reported conditions are reviewed by the Occupational Health Nurse and, if further information is needed, you will be contacted via email or telephone.*

You will be asked for your vaccination history as part of your questionnaire - please ensure you complete this and provide any evidence you have. These must have the date given and results of any blood tests. Please request records from your GP or previous employer, or check your baby book (usually yellow or red), and submit clear copies with your PPQ. We cannot plan your required vaccinations without this information. Failure to complete the necessary vaccination programme can prevent you from going on clinical placement. 

We will need evidence of:

• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination, or immunity to Measles and Rubella via a blood test.  
• Hepatitis B vaccination, or immunity to Hep B via a blood test. 
• Chickenpox (varicella). If you do not recall having had chickenpox infection and have not had a vaccination previously, we will offer you a blood test. 
• Tuberculosis immunity. All students without evidence of a prior BCG vaccination (either documented or via a scar check) will be screened with a skin test prior to being offered a BCG. For students who have recently been resident in a higher incidence country we will also offer a blood test, regardless of previous vaccination. 
• Dental students will require additional screening by blood test before being permitted to go on placement and carry out Exposure Prone Procedures.

If you have not previously had any of the above, we are able to provide them for you.

Please note that prior to any vaccination a full assessment will be carried out by the nurse to ensure there are no contraindications to you having the vaccine.

Please ensure you bring photographic ID (such as your passport, driving license, student ID or BRP card) and copies of all your immunisation evidence with you to your first appointment. 

During this appointment, the nurse will confirm the vaccination history you have provided, and administer vaccinations and/or blood tests as needed. 

For first year students, you will be given an appointment date and time along with others on your course, however due to limitations on how many students we are able to see, not everyone will have an appointment on the same day. We do not invite students who are not registered or have not submitted their questionnaire for an appointment. 

Please note that your teachers are aware of the requirement for Occupational Health clearance, and will allow you to miss class time to attend your appointment. 

You will be invited to attend further appointments to ensure you meet the minimum criteria for placement clearance. It is essential to complete all screening & vaccination programs. Failure to engage with this process is likely to result in your placement being delayed or cancelled.

Always communicate with us if you cannot attend a scheduled appointment, as failure to do so could result in you not achieving the necessary clearance for your placement. Continued non-attendance at appointments may result in you having to organize and fund these appointments yourself.

• Course clearance (except Biomedical Science) 
• Minimum of 2 doses of Hep B, or blood test showing immunity
• Minimum of 1 dose of MMR, or blood test showing immunity to Measles and Rubella
• Declared history of Varicella (chickenpox) infection, or at least 1 dose of vaccine or blood test showing immunity 
• Screened for Tuberculosis via confirmation of symptoms and scar check
• Dental students also require blood test screenings before being permitted to carry out Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP)

You do not need to meet this criteria before you begin your course - if you have not had any of the above vaccinations/checks, you will be offered them through Occupational Health.