UWHC news

Reported case of suspected Mumps

I am writing to let you know that there have been reported cases of mumps linked to the university. These have yet to be confirmed.

Mumps is a viral illness which can be unpleasant and disruptive. Occasionally serious complications can occur. These can include a mild form of meningitis; ear infections, inflammation of the pancreas, swelling of the testicles in adult men and inflammation of the ovaries in women.

The Health Protection Agency have advised that students are informed of the situation and that individuals under the age of twenty-five should have had at least 2 doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination to have the best chance of protection against mumps.

Anyone who has received only one MMR dose or one MMR and one MR (measles, rubella) or neither, may not have adequate protection against mumps. It is, therefore, advisable that individuals should take the earliest opportunity to complete their immunisation which is available through GPs.

As students at this University for 30+ weeks each year, you are resident here more than you are at home. Also, whilst here, you no longer have the close support of family and friends. Therefore it is important that you register with a general medical practitioner (GP) where you will be living whilst at university. If living on campus or in our catchment area you can register with either GP practice working at the University of Warwick Health Centre on the main campus. Do not wait until you feel ill as the support may not be easily available.

REGISTER WITH A GP AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE AT UNIVERSITY

It is essential that you bring your full residential address at University.
If you have been registered with a GP in this country you must bring your NHS number – CLICK HERE for more info on your NHS number
You can register with the GP practice at the Students’ Union North Building
at the following times

Friday 26th September 9.30am-4.30pm
Students from overseas on their Induction week should register on Friday
Saturday 27th September: 9.30am-4.30pm
Sunday 28th September: 10.00am-4.30pm
Most first year students arrive over weekend and should register on Saturday & Sunday
Monday 29th September: 9.30am-4.30pm
Tuesday 30th September:9.30am-4.30pm
Wednesday 1st October:9.30am-4.00pm

Students, who have not yet registered or students who were living in Leamington Spa last year but are back on campus/ in Coventry, can register on these three days.

If you were registered with either practice at this Health Centre in the past, you need to tell us so we can re-register you with the same practice.

Students already registered but who have moved since last year can collect “Change of address forms” and return them to this base whilst open or to the Health Centre OR submit Change of Address details ONLINE

HEALTHCHECKS – if you need a heathcheck please READ THIS

YOUR NHS NUMBER

If you have lived in this country before you would have been registered with a GP / doctor.
If you went to a boarding school or university in this country before you came to this university you should have been registered with a GP / doctor.
At this time you would have been given an NHS number. It is written on the medical card sent to you.
We need this NHS number in order to register you.
NB: The NHS number is not the university identification number

FINDING YOUR NHS NUMBER
All patient records in the NHS now use the common identifier of the NHS number therefore it is important you give us this number.
If you cannot remember it try the following:
•Look on your medical card which gives name of your GP and your NHS number. Your parents may have this card
•Ask you parents if they know your NHS number
•phone your GP and ask for your NHS number. If you cannot remember telephone number for practice then you may be able to find it through www.nhs.uk/england
•If you were at boarding school in this country when first registered, phone school and ask for name of GP and then phone them for NHS number (Overseas students especially)
•phone the Primary Care Trust / Health Authority for the area where you lived and ask for GP Registration Department and they should be able to give you number.

HEALTH CHECKS - Autumn 2008 Registrations

STUDENTS REGISTERING ON FRIDAY 26th, SATURDAY 27th or SUNDAY 28th September 2007.
If you have been asked to have a health check or meningitis / mumps (mmr) vaccinations at the health centre please leave 3 hours after you have registered in the students’ union before going to the health centre. This will give us time to transfer your forms down there and input your information onto the clinical computer system.

STUDENTS REGISTERING ON MONDAY 29th, TUESDAY 30th September or WEDNESDAY 1st October 2008

If you have been asked to have a health check or meningitis / mumps (mmr) vaccinations at the health centre please go to the centre and book an appointment after Monday 6th October.

If you’ve had unprotected sex, emergency contraception can stop you becoming pregnant.

But you need to act quickly – the longer you leave it after having sex, the more likely you are to become pregnant.

NHS Direct has launched a free confidential online chat with an NHS Direct adviser – totally confidential – you don’t even have to give your name if you don’t want to!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND TO ACCESS THE ONLINE CHAT OPTION

by Chloe Rhodes

About a month after Freshers’ Week, there comes a defining moment in every student’s life. You’ll know it’s arrived when your way of getting clean socks is to turn a dirty pair inside-out: it’s the day you embrace the filth.

Slovenly behaviour has become an accepted part of student life, but it could be putting your health at risk. Here’s how to minimise the damage.

Food

Last year, almost 80,000 people suffered some form of food poisoning. Serious stomach bugs such as E. Coli can be spread by unwashed hands, so before preparing food make sure your hands are clean. Keep perishable foods in the fridge; a single bacterium can multiply to thousands of millions in 12 hours, so if you want to eat your leftover takeaway for breakfast, store it properly overnight. If you’re cooking for yourself for the first time, ensure that any meat you prepare is cooked right through – and never eat anything that smells or looks mouldy.

Washing-up

A sink full of stagnating washing-up is a feature of most student houses, but as well as a cause of friction with your housemates it is also a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Try not to leave washing-up sitting in the sink, and use hot water and plenty of washing-up liquid to get it clean. Sponges and drying cloths also need to be changed regularly; they provide the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive, and could re-contaminate clean plates.

Cleaning

Communal kitchens can be a haven for germs, from the common cold to food-poisoning bugs, such as salmonella, campylobacter and listeria. After use, surfaces should be wiped with disinfectant – preferably with a disposable cloth, as bacteria multiply quickly on damp cloths. Spills and ring-stains should receive the same treatment, as they will attract bacteria and possibly flies, which spread the bacteria further. Toilets and bathrooms should be cleaned thoroughly once a week, and bins emptied as soon as they are full to avoid attracting vermin.

Laundry

The average bed is home to 10,000 dust mites, which can trigger allergic reactions including sneezing, skin rashes and even asthma attacks. Pull back the bedclothes each day to air the bed, and wash your bedding once a week at more than 60 degrees. Clothes should also be washed regularly. As well as making you smell less than rosy, the build-up of dead skin in dirty clothing is a feast for mites, which can cause itching and aggravate skin conditions such as eczema.

chloe.rhodes@ telegraph.co.uk

NHS NUMBER

If you have lived in this country before you would have been registered with a GP / doctor.
If you went to a boarding school or university in this country before you came to this university you should have been registered with a GP / doctor.
At this time you would have been given an NHS number. It is written on the medical card sent to you.
We need this NHS number in order to register you.
NB: The NHS number is not the university identification number

FINDING YOUR NHS NUMBER

All patient records in the NHS now use the common identifier of the NHS number therefore it is important you give us this number.
If you cannot remember it try the following:
•Look on your medical card which gives name of your GP and your NHS number. Your parents may have this card
•Ask you parents if they know your NHS number
•phone your GP and ask for your NHS number. If you cannot remember telephone number for practice then you may be able to find it through www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
•If you were at boarding school in this country when first registered, phone school and ask for name of GP and then phone them for NHS number (Overseas students especially)
•phone the Primary Care Trust / Health Authority for the area where you lived and ask for GP Registration Department and they should be able to give you number.

HEALTH CHECKS - Autumn 2008 Registrations

STUDENTS REGISTERING ON FRIDAY 26th, SATURDAY 27th or SUNDAY 28th September 2007.
If you have been asked to have a health check or meningitis / mumps (mmr) vaccinations at the health centre please leave 3 hours after you have registered in the students’ union before going to the health centre. This will give us time to transfer your forms down there and input your information onto the clinical computer system.

STUDENTS REGISTERING ON MONDAY 29th, TUESDAY 30th September or WEDNESDAY 1st October 2008

If you have been asked to have a health check or meningitis / mumps (mmr) vaccinations at the health centre please go to the centre and book an appointment after Monday 6th October.

A useful article by Barbara Lantin, Health Writer for the Daily Telegraph on Freshers’ flu, Mumps, Meningitis. Glandular fever, Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) etc etc See article

Patient Survey 2006/7 : Summary of Outcome

▸Patients were surveyed during November 2006
▸389 questionnaires analysed (43 more than last year)
▸Received comments from 91 individuals (same as last year)
▸More women than men responded
▸74% (51% last year) of respondents aged under 25 which more truly reflects our patient profile.
▸Our overall score was five points lower than the national average (previous two years were one point below).

Breakdown on comments received:

If patients would like to see a full copy of the outcome of the survey or make any comment please ask to speak to Ann Boutall, Practice Manager

The report has been discussed with the Welfare Officer for the Students’ Union, as a representative of the students and with the Senior Tutor and other key officers of the University

This year is expected to be the biggest year ever for smokers trying to beat their addiction. A survey for the charity No Smoking Day, showed 2.8 million of them will definitely try to stop smoking when England goes smokefree on July 1, 2007.

According to a survey carried out by GfK NOP, one in four UK smokers said that getting rid of smoking in pubs, clubs restaurants and bars would be the boost they need to try and ditch the cigs for good.

Elizabeth O’Hare of Coventry’s Smoking Cessation Service, said: “Millions see England’s move to going smokefree as a chance to make a fresh start. Combined with the network of superb NHS stop smoking services, the UK is probably the best place in the world to be if you want to give up smoking.”

The ‘No Smoking Day’ campaign offers these top tips for anyone wanting to quit in 2007:

•A 20-a-day smoker who stopped at New Year will have saved £350 by No Smoking Day on March 14 and nearly £900 by the time England goes smokefree on July 1!

•Why wait until July to make a quit attempt. By stopping on or before No Smoking Day you can be totally smokefree well in advance of the ban.

•Smoking can create hormonal imbalances which decrease libido – giving up smoking will improve your sex life!

•Feel fitter within two weeks of stopping: finally run for the bus without a coughing fit

•Using Coventry’s NHS Smoking Cessation Service is four times more likely to work than going cold turkey

For more information about what’s happening on ‘No Smoking Day’ and other quit smoking support call Coventry’s Smoking Cessation helpline on (024) 7624 6093

As from January 2007 the opening hours for the Walk-in Centre have changed.
This nurse-led service for minor illness, minor injury and emergency contraception is now open as follows:
Monday – Friday: 12noon – 10.00pm
Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays: 07.00am – 10.00pm

The Walk-In Centre is adjacent to Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital in Stoney Stanton Road.
Tel: 02476 24 67 89 – see map