The Medical Centre

1. The Medical Centre Aims: Raise awareness of available medical services This presentation will also be available on-line (www.uclan.ac.uk/international)

2. Health Services in the United Kingdom • Health services in the United Kingdom may be different from those you have at home. • The National Health Service provides free medical care if you are resident in the UK (for over 6 months) • You may need to pay for medicine/prescription • To apply for help with prescription costs complete a HC1 form (available at the medical centre and in The ‘i’)

3. How to access Healthcare • To be able to access NHS treatment you MUST be registered with a doctor • You can register at any GP surgery, but there is a medical centre on campus • If you do not register at the sessions during Orientation, you can call into the medical centre and complete the forms there

4. Change of Address • If you move to a new address it is ESSENTIAL that you inform the Medical Centre • If you do not your NHS registration may be cancelled and you will not have a doctor!

5. What to do if you are feeling unwell • Many minor illnesses can be self managed, with advice from a pharmacy. You do not always need to see a doctor Some examples include: • Cold sores• Constipation• Coughs & colds• Cystitits• Diarrhoea• Earache• Hayfever

6. HeadacheHeadliceIndigestionMouth ulcers RashesSore throatsThreadwormVaginal thrush Verrucas What to do if you are feeling unwell

7. What to do if you are feeling unwell • Access www.uclan.ac.ukand visit the Medical Centre web pages(in the A-Z list) for advice on minor illness • Or you can visit your local pharmacist • Or contact NHS direct (a health advisory service) on 0845 4647 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

8. What to do if you are feeling unwell! • If your problem cannot be self-managed, you can contact the Medical Centre for advice • We are located off Kirkham Street, near the Media Factory • Open Monday-Friday 8.15am-5.30pm • Telephone: 01772 892598

9. Services at the Medical Centre

10. If you need to see a doctor • If your problem requires you to see the Doctor ring ideally before 9am for an appointment. • You will usually get an appointment for the same day

11. Advanced Nurse Practitioners The nurse practitioners can assess and treat most minor illnesses They can prescribe medicines They are usually your first point of contact

12. Advanced nurse practitioners How do I access the service? • Telephone the surgery. You will be offered an approximate time to call in Or you can “Drop in” The nurse practitioners run drop-in sessions so advance appointments are not required.

13. Practice Nurse • The practice nurse offers advice on minor illness, wound care, pregnancy testing, travel advice, ear care and can take blood samples • Blood clinics are run Mon, Tues & Fri 8.30-11am • The Travel Clinic is available by appointment only • Ring for times for all other services 

14. Contraception & Sexual Health • Contraception: A safe & effective way of preventing unwanted pregnancy and infection • Freely available from Medical centre • Emergency contraception (morning after pill) also available • Clinics held daily • Advice/ treatment for unplanned pregnancy also available

15. Sexually Transmitted Infections • Sexually transmitted infections are on the increase • They can be prevented by using a condom • The medical centre offers advice on all STIs and also a confidential testing service, by appointment only.

16. Contraception and Sexual health • Condoms are provided free from the Medical Centre • Self-Testing kits for chlamydia are also available from the medical centre

17. Out of Hours Health Care • If URGENTmedical care is needed outside of surgery hours the Primary Care Centre at the Royal Preston Hospital provides cover. • Please only use this service in an emergency if you cannot wait until the medical centre is open • Visits to Primary Care are strictly by appointment only and patients will be expected to make their own way to the Centre.

18. Out of Hours Health Care Opening Hours Monday – Friday 6.00pm – 8.00am Weekends and Bank Holidays 24 hours Tel: 01772 788058 Remember you MUST ring for an appointment first

19. Dental Care • Access to an NHS Dental service is available • You can pick up a form from the medical centre or register on line at www.centrallancashire.nhs.uk/dental

20. How to keep healthy • It is not unusual to feel homesick and stressed due to a new environment and different culture • You may experience LOW MOODS, ANXIETY OR ISOLATION.

21. Counselling services A confidential counselling service is available to students. This is based in Foster building room FB119 TELEPHONE 01772 892572 for an appointment

22. How to keep healthy It is fine to enjoy alcohol, but you need to ensure that you look after your health and well-being. • Know your limits

23. Alcohol • To find out how to safely enjoy alcohol visit: www.drinkaware.co.uk

24. Smoking • Smoking increases your risk of : Developing illness Disability Death It can also cause: CANCER HEART DISEASE LUNG DISEASE

25. Smoking • There is support to help you give up smoking. Please visit: www.nhs.uk/gosmokefree OR Telephone 0800 022 4 332 OR Contact The Medical Centre for further advice

26. Recreational Drugs • These include: Cannabis, Heroin, Cocaine, LSD, Ecstasy, GHB • These drugs are illegal and if you receive a caution from the police you will have a criminal record! • Taking/mixing drugs with alcohol is risky and the affects can be unpredictable!

27. Recreational Drug Use • Drug use can affect your mental and physical well-being For further information see www.talktofrank.com

28. Measles/Mumps/Rubella There has been a recent outbreak of mumps on campus Please ensure that you are up to date with your MMR vaccination Meningitis C Can be a fatal illness Good protection given from vaccination Ensure you have had a Men C vaccination Vaccine Preventable Disease