Health Centre Handbook

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HEALTH CENTRE HANDBOOK

Our experienced team gives the best service to every patient, delivered with compassion, care and consideration.

Welcome

The Health Centre is located at the east end of the School campus, next to the School Shop During term time, we are staffed by a qualified nurse 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our premises include a nurse treatment room, a doctor's office, and a therapy room There are seven bedrooms, where pupils can isolate out of the boarding environment when they feel unwell. There is also a large and comfortable lounge: a peaceful environment where pupils can rest or take time away from the bustle of School life

Our services

We offer a range of services, from managing acute medical problems to helping pupils with chronic health conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, and allergies We pride ourselves on not only being here for illness and injury but also as a further source of pastoral support

Communication is key to our success. We rely on regular communication with both pupils and their parents to ensure we have the most up-to-date information regarding the pupil’s health and wellbeing Please ensure the Health Centre is updated with any private appointments outside of School or any other services accessed outside of the Health Centre.

The Health Centre and pastoral care teams work together to make sure pupils receive excellent health and wellbeing support, and appropriate referrals to other services as required

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The Health Centre provides high-quality, evidence-based healthcare to promote lifelong physical and emotional wellbeing among the whole Sherborne Girls community.

Health Centre

surger y times

GP surgery times (mornings by appointment only)

Monday to Friday 8.00-9.00am

Nurse surgery times (mornings by appointment only)

Monday to Friday

Nurse surgery times ((afternoons, drop-in)

7 45-9 00am

Nurse clinics

You can see a nurse by dropping in at one of the above surgery times Alternatively, contact us to make an appointment:

Email: health@sherborne.com

Teams: Health Centre Reception

Telephone: 01935 818216

Confirming your appointment

You will receive a Teams message the day before your appointment, and House staff receive an email confirming the details. This email does not give information about what your appointment relates to.

Monday to Friday

5 30-7 00pm (Prescriptions can be collected at this time)

Nurse surgery times (weekends, drop-in)

Saturday and Sunday 11.00am-7.00pm (Prescriptions can be collected at this time)

NB: from 12.30-1.00pm, the duty nurse is on their lunchbreak. During these times, please only visit the Health Centre if there is an emergency.

If a pupil needs to be seen by a nurse after 7 00pm, they must ask a member of House staff to telephone ahead to the Health Centre so the duty nurse knows to expect them .

GP clinics

The doctor's surgery runs in the Health Centre from 8 00-9 00am, Monday to Friday. To make an appointment:

Telephone: 01935 818216

Email: health@sherborne.com

Visit the Health Centre and discuss with the nurse on duty.

Ask your Boarding House staff to assist you

If you are unable to attend the appointment, please tell the Health Centre as soon as possible Appointments are very valuable and another pupil may be able to take your place.

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Our nurses

Meet our team

Health Centre Nurse Manager Alice Beard leads a team of nurses. They are supported by Administrator Sarah Ashton and Housekeeper Carol Waters.

All Health Centre nurses are linked to a Boarding House, which they visit at least once a term. For nonurgent questions or requests, pupils are encouraged to ask the nurse linked to their House. This can be done by emailing health@sherborne.com and marking “For the attention of (insert House) link nurse”.

A new nurse will be appointed for September 2023

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Alice Beard, Health Centre Nurse Manager Aldhelmsted West/Mulliner Jane Campbell Reader Harris Dun Holme Leanne Gower Aldhelmsted East Wendy Kelly Wingfield Digby Zoe Farrant Kenelm

Our support staff

Our doctors

All boarding pupils are registered with The Grove Medical Centre, Wootton Grove, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4DL (tel: 01935 810900). They are under the care of Dr Thomas and Dr Middle.

This ensures we have a comprehensive overview of the pupil's health needs. It also responds to the strong recommendation of the Department of Health and the Medical Officers of Schools Association (MOSA) that pupils in boarding schools are registered at their school.

Dr Katie Thomas

Primary qualifications: BM BS DFFP DRCOG MRCP

Dr Thomas is an experienced GP who has been a partner at The Grove Medical Centre since October 2016. Her medical interests include chronic disease management and paediatrics. She is the Senior Medical Officer for Sherborne Girls.

Dr Charlie Middle

Primary qualifications: MB BS MRCGP Diploma in Sports medicine qualified St Thomas’ Hospital 1990.

Dr Middle is the Medical Officer for Sherborne Girls. His clinical interests are sports and orthopaedic medicine, adolescent health care and surgery.

Dr Middle performs the minor surgery for the Practice.

Please let the Health Centre know as soon as possible if a pupil is receiving treatment or support for a physical or emotional issue from any external services. You can do this by emailing: health@sherborne.com.

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Carol

Referrals

We can make referrals to other specialities on the NHS where needed, but this can involve joining a lengthy waiting list. We welcome referral requests to private services and often the GP will have a recommendation of a local specialist If a pupil receives private medical care, please tell us promptly so we can update their medical records All referrals are discussed with the pupil’s parent or guardian.

Prescriptions

When the doctor prescribes medication, it is sent electronically to Well Pharmacy in Sherborne, which delivers to the Health Centre five days a week We send an email when the medication is ready for collection. Collections are made after 5 00pm, unless advised otherwise

Controlled medication must be administered and stored by House staff, and such prescriptions can only be collected by House staff During holiday times these medications must be collected and returned to the Boarding House staff by the pupil's parent or guardian.

Pupils can self-medicate with some items, such as over-the-counter drugs To do so, pupils must complete an assessment with a member of the nursing team and sign a disclaimer

External appointments

There may be times where pupils need appointments at other health facilities, such as hospitals or specialists If a parent or guardian is unable to accompany their child, a matron will go with them and report back to the Health Centre and the Boarding House teams

Out of term time

If a consultation is required with a doctor during School holidays, please ask The Grove Medical Centre for a telephone consultation with either of the GPs. They will often be able to assist or advise on treatment.

If you need a face-to-face appointment with a GP during the School holidays, you can be seen as a temporary patient at your local surgery. Please do not register with this surgery, as they will request your medical records, thereby removing them from The Grove Medical Centre database.

If a repeat prescription is required outside of term time, please telephone The Grove Medical Centre The dispensary team will send the prescription to your local pharmacy

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Consent

The law states that people aged 16 or over are entitled to consent to their own treatment. This can only be overruled in exceptional circumstances, or if there's considerable evidence to suggest they cannot make a properly informed decision

Children under the age of 16 can consent to their own treatment if they are believed to have enough intelligence, competence and understanding to fully appreciate what it involves. This is known as being “Gillick competent”.

We seek parental consent on admission to Sherborne Girls for medical treatment from the Health Centre team and School GP, for the administration of over-the-counter medications and for immunisations

The Head, Health Centre staff and House staff can act in loco parentis and will, in incredibly rare situations, consent for emergency treatment We will always do our best to contact parents or guardians and gain verbal consent in such situations

Conf identiality

As with all medical matters, confidentiality regarding medical information is strictly maintained No medical information will be given to any person, member of staff or parent/guardian without the consent of the patient unless there is a safeguarding, or best interest, indication as per General Medical Council guidance Please note, though, that there are very few instances when we would not encourage a pupil to discuss all aspects of their medical care with their parents.

Many medical matters do not require strict confidentiality For example, a pupil with a twisted ankle may discuss it with their matron in House and be sent to the Health Centre for assessment by the Nurse, who will then discuss the treatment plan with the pupil, matron, and possibly the Sports Department. In most situations it is in the pupil’s best interests to inform House staff and others who they will be in contact with in School. This rarely clashes with our commitment to confidentiality

Medication in House

The following information is displayed in Boarding Houses for all pupils:

1 You must report all medication you bring from home to your Housemaster/mistress (HM) or matron They will then notify the Health Centre

2. Medication can only be kept in House with consent from the Health Centre

3 The Health Centre will either give consent for you to keep and self-administer your medication, or the nurses may request that you report to your HM or matron for your medication

4. The HM or matron will take responsibility for any medication that requires refrigeration

5 If you are permitted to keep medication, it must be stored and locked in your lockable space. You must not allow any other pupil to access or take this medication

6 The Health Centre will contact your HM to provide you with appropriate consent, if you have permission to selfmedicate

7 Your HM can store medication overnight until consent has been obtained

8 If you have consent to keep medication such as an asthma inhaler or an EpiPen you must ensure you can always access it, including during activities

9 If you have taken medication at home immediately before coming into School, you must let your HM or matron know. This includes anything containing paracetamol.

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Vaccinations

UK childhood immunisation programme

We ask all pupils to be vaccinated in accordance with the UK childhood immunisation programme If previously registered in the UK, the information regarding vaccinations is sent automatically to the GP surgery on registration If vaccinated overseas, parents need to provide the Health Centre with the official vaccination paperwork so that our records can be updated

Routine vaccinations on the UK vaccination programme are administered by the Dorset School Age Immunisation Service. They provide the Health Centre with a date for the clinic and a list of pupil names to contact the parent or guardian and request consent We send an email containing all relevant details and include an update in the Sherborne Girls Bulletin as a further reminder. On the chosen date, the Health Centre hosts the immunisation team and ensures all relevant pupils are on hand to receive their vaccination.

For current recommendations, please visit Routine childhood immunisation schedule - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Travel vaccinations

We have specialist nurses who can offer a comprehensive travel service, advising on travel health and recommended vaccines for the destination Most vaccines incur a fee, just as they would in a GP surgery A nurse will complete an initial assessment of the requirements and then contact the pupil’s parents/guardians to discuss consent and the fees involved.

To access this service, please give a minimum of eight to 12 weeks' notice prior to travel This ensures there is time to complete the vaccination course, which can involve multiple doses.

Please email health@sherborne.com with requests for a travel consultation. Be sure to state the destinations, date of travel, duration, and what accommodation and activities are planned

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Health promotion

The nursing team provides health promotion at specialist clinics and during routine consultations. Examples of topics covered include:

• Asthma clinics

• Healthy choices

• Good hygiene including hand hygiene

• Stop smoking and vape awareness

• Health screening and body awareness

• Sexual health, contraception, and pregnancy awareness

• Mental health support

Medicals

All pupils are invited to the Health Centre for a medical check once a year This is an opportunity to get to know the nurses on a one-toone basis and develop familiarity with the Health Centre environment.

The medical includes a brief examination, including height and weight measurements, as well as time to discuss the management of chronic or new medical conditions and to ask any questions that pupils are reluctant to discuss with their House staff The wider discussion can include topics such as hearing, eyesight, menstruation, and skeletal concerns.

Pupil illness

If a pupil is unwell, the nurse may advise that they need to be cared for out of the School environment. If parents or guardians are able, they can come and collect the pupil from the Health Centre, or pupils can be admitted to one of the Health Centre bedrooms

There are many reasons for admission to the Health Centre. Most common are infectious illnesses, because the patient needs close monitoring, or because they just need time away from the boarding environment

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Other ser vices

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy can be arranged by the GP, via the NHS or using the private services of Anna Train, who attends the Health Centre once a week on a Thursday morning.

Anna qualified 18 years ago from Brunel University London with firstclass honours in Physiotherapy. She is a knowledgeable Chartered Physiotherapist, having worked in both the public and private sectors. More recently, Anna has worked at the highest level as a clinical specialist for consultants in orthopaedic spinal and shoulder clinics as well as a senior physio in a busy NHS musculoskeletal outpatient department.

Counselling services

Heddy Smith and therapy dog Muppet.

The counselling offices are located above the Health Centre and are accessed by walking around the Health Centre building. Heddy Smith is our lead counsellor (assisted by her therapy dog, Muppet) She manages a team of two counsellors: Veronica Rosello and Lauenna Luddington

To refer to the counselling service: Self-refer by emailing directly: h.smith@sherborne.com

Ask a member of House staff to make a referral

The Health Centre also welcomes other visiting therapists to use the therapy room For more information please contact the Health Centre

Leaving Sherborne Girls

On leaving Sherborne Girls we advise pupils to register with a local GP as soon as possible. If you remain local to Sherborne and wish to stay with The Grove Medical Centre, you will need to update the practice with your new address.

On registering with another GP in the UK all medical notes and vaccination records are transferred electronically. If leaving the UK, we ask pupils to let the Health Centre know so we can provide a copy of your vaccination history. You must give consent for this, by emailing: health@sherborne.com

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Who can I t alk to?

Everybody has worries or problems at some time in their lives. Although there may be times when you do not want to talk about worries, it is usually sensible and helpful to talk to someone else about them and to try to help sort them out. You could talk to one of the other girls in your year group or the older girls in House – your Head of House or a Prefect. However, there are occasions when an adult may be a more appropriate person to talk to and there are a very large number to choose from at school, as well as your parents and relations.

All members of staff would be pleased to talk to you and try to help. This includes Dr Sullivan and Mrs Briggs. If you need to see the Head quickly, see her Personal Assistant, Mrs Horton. They will listen to you in confidence, but there may be times when they have to ask your permission to tell someone what you have told them, if they think you or others are at serious risk of harm

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Safeguarding Hotline 01935 818324 Safeguarding Leads Lead: Mrs Briggs 01935 818342 07711 002937
Mrs Miller, Mr McClary Mrs Orton, Mrs Beard Chaplain Revd Katie W indle chaplain@sherborne.com Counsellors Mrs Heddy Smith 07970 843359 h.smith@sherborne.com Ms Lauenna Luddington Mrs Veronica Rosello Children’s Commissioner for England 0800 528 0731 www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk Nurses health@sherborne.com 07977 469663 Independent Listener Mrs Ann Simon 07890 549135 Mrs Isabel Burke 07989 527888 Samaritans 116 123 jo@samaritans org Doctors Dr Charlie Middle Dr Katie Thomas Learning Support v collyer@sherborne com
Deputies:
Childline 0800 1111 Teachers Senior Staff Tootoot House mistress/ master Friends Matrons Tutors LGBTQ+ Miss Brown (r brown@sherborne com) Mr Greed (g.greed@sherborne.com) Mr McClary (i mcclary@sherborne com) SHERBORNE GIRLS
Aroundthe-clock suppor t
20 SHERBORNE GIRLS Cont acts Please never hesitate to contact the Health Centre team either by email or telephone: health@sherborne.com (01935) 818216
www.sherborne.com
We hope your time at Sherborne girls is fulfilling, happy and healthy, with the reassurance that the Health Centre team is on hand to guide you when needed.
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