Health
Medical Matters
NHS Direct provide health advice
and information on how to access healthcare services. You can use their
Find Your
Nearest service to find local GPs (General Practitioner)
(further details are also below), Dentists, Pharmacies or
A&E (Accident and Emergency) departments. Walk in Centres complement other health services. Follow the link to
find a walk in centre near you and their opening hours.
If you are an
international student you should check whether you have to pay for
healthcare in the UK.
If your health or mental health is affecting your studies please
contact Student
Support.
Absence from tuition and medical certification
Full details of the procedures for Student
Absence and
Medical Certification.
Registering with a doctor
Under University regulations you are required to register with a local doctor
for the duration of your studies if you live on campus or in the local
surrounding area. We advise you to register as soon as possible after your
arrival, in case you should suddenly need medical treatment. If you wait until
you become ill, you will be disadvantaged because your medical records will
still be with your previous doctor. If you are not registered you may be
referred to the local Walk In Centre for treatment, as a doctor is not obliged
to see you (unless deemed a medical emergency). Details are given below of the
location of services on or near the campus or you can choose to register with a
GP (General Practitioner) in the local area where you live. Use the
NHS Find Your Nearest service to find local GPs (General Practitioner)
Colchester Campus
There is a health centre on the Colchester Campus which offers National
Health Service (NHS) provision including appointments with doctors, a nurse
triage system for emergencies, and specialist nurse clinics including asthma,
diabetes, sexual health and contraception. For further details visit the
Rowhedge Surgery website.
Southend Campus
There is a doctor's surgery in the Gateway building offering NHS services
including appointments with doctors and nurse clinics. For further
information visit the practice and
choose the Luker Road surgery.
Loughton Campus
Contact details of local GPs are available from Student Support on the ground
floor at Hatfields. Alternatively,
find a
local NHS doctor.
Dental Treatment
We recommend that new students take time to register with a local dentist as
emergency treatment can be difficult to obtain if you are not registered. If you
wish to register with an NHS dentist you can search the
Find Your
Nearest
for local dentists. You will then need to contact each dentist individually to
ask if they are still registering NHS patients and make an appointment
accordingly.
Southend Campus
The University hosts an Academic Dental Clinic, which provides free basic
dental care (one course only). In order to register, students should go to the
reception area on the first floor of The Gateway Building, accessed via the rear
of the building.
Paying for Prescriptions, Opticians and Dental Treatment
As a student you may be entitled to full or partial exemption (on the grounds
of low income) from prescription, dental and optical charges. More information
is available for students and international students on
paying for
prescriptions.
Protect yourself and know the symptoms;
First Aid
For either emergency first aid or non-urgent first aid assistance, please
telephone the relevant on-site team.