Box Hill School Medical Centre is staffed by registered nurses who provide nursing cover (Monday to Friday, 07.30-17.00 in term-time). In addition, many members of the school staff are qualified First Aiders and are available through boarding or the out-of-hour’s activity they are participating in, should the student require any assistance.
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We use a holistic approach in planning the care of students, taking into consideration their physical, emotional and psychological needs. The Medical Centre is a welcoming environment, so that students can access support when required. We complete care plans for students with medical or additional needs.
We work closely with individuals helping them take responsibility for their own health, to ensure that each pupil fulfils their potential. We support them with their health needs, whilst striving to keep them fully engaged in their education. We aim to treat students with a caring and professional approach.
We are always pleased to talk to any parent/guardian about their child’s health, either on the telephone or in person, and we are always available for pupils to talk to us. Sometimes individuals talk to us in confidence, and we respect this, except where their welfare is at risk.
If a Year 7 pupil is seen by a member of the team, parents will be notified as required. When a student is too unwell to remain in school, the nursing team will contact the parents/guardian to arrange collection. The school operates a strict 48-hour exclusion policy for all vomiting/diarrhoea illnesses, in line with the recommendations by Public Health England.
HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE AND CONSENT
We ask you to complete a health questionnaire and emergency consent form IN FULL and return them to school before your child starts at Box Hill. Information supplied on the health questionnaire is confidential and is not released to other departments in the school without parent/pupil consent.
KEEPING US UPDATED
We would be grateful if you could keep us informed of changes to your child’s health status during their time at Box Hill. We DO NOT send out annual update requests, but DO expect prompt, open communication where health information changes.
MEDICALS
All boarders will have basic health checks on admission to the school. This includes height, weight, blood pressure and a discussion about their health. This information is shared with Medwyn Surgery as part of their GP registration.
VACCINATIONS
The school requires up to date vaccinations. We request ALL vaccination dates from the GP’s immunisation record, a photocopy of the child’s records, or any other international vaccination certificates. We will contact you should your child require any boosters or further vaccinations.
We are keen to ensure that appropriate immunisations are given. Please inform the nursing team if any immunisations are given at home so that we can amend pupils school health records as appropriate. Central Surrey Health (CSH) come to the school annually to vaccinate for HPV (cervical cancer vaccination in Year 8) and DTaP/IPV (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis and Polio booster) and Meningitis ACWY in Years 9 & 10. Notifications will be sent out prior to these events asking for parental e-consent via the NHS portal.
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
All boarders are registered under the National Health Service with the School Doctor. They are entitled to medical treatment including hospital care under the NHS.
The nursing team work closely with Dr Raj Sekhon and Dr Louise Tomei (school doctors) and the Medwyn Surgery team. For more urgent needs, the student is triaged by the duty doctor and advised accordingly. Most students will be escorted to their appointment by a member of the nursing team. The cost of transport/taxis etc. will be recharged to their school account.
Parents and/or guardians will be contacted, if appropriate, if a student is unwell or needs to see a doctor.
A student who is registered with Medwyn Surgery and who needs to see another doctor during the holidays should be registered as a temporary patient with his/her doctor at home.
ADMISSIONS TO HOSPITAL
In the case of an emergency, everything possible is done to contact parents/guardians immediately. In exceptional cases however, if this is not possible, the Head (or authorised deputy) must act in loco parentis and in such circumstances, has the right to authorise medical and surgical treatment, including the administration of anaesthetic. Pupils over the age of 16 are permitted to give their own consent to medical treatment.
Pupils will normally be admitted under the NHS. If parents would prefer, or are insured for, private medical care they should include details of the relevant policy.
Where a pupil needs medical attention outside school, they would normally be accompanied by a member of staff. The cost of transport/taxis etc. will be recharged to their school account.
MEDICATIONS
The school provide over the counter medications such as paracetamol. Pupils must not bring these medications into school. The school policy is that all prescribed medications brought into school should be clearly labelled with the pupils name and must be handed in to the nursing team. All prescribed medications must have a consent form and current prescription from the authorised prescriber attached (please e-mail nurses@boxhillschool.com for the form).
It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that medication brought into School is in date.
Asthmatic pupils must always carry their inhaler on their person at all times. There are emergency asthma kits around the School, in the event of an emergency. Pupils with Adrenaline Auto Injector pens (AAIs) are required to keep two on their person at all times. Spare AAIs are located in the Medical Centre and Reception in the event of an emergency. Two AAI pens are required for all school trips. All boarding pupils bringing their own prescribed medications into school who wish to self-medicate, must see the School Nurse to be assessed and sign a self-medication form to meet School and ISI guidelines.
DENTIST, OPTICIAN AND OTHER ANCILLARY SERVICES
Routine dental work and optician appointments should be arranged by parents or guardians during the school holidays. We will, however, deal with any emergencies during the term. Private orthodontic work can be arranged for boarders only. The nursing team are happy to facilitate private physio, chiropractic, and sports massage sessions etc, if required.
FACILITIES
The Medical Centre comprises of five beds, two shower rooms, three offices and a waiting area. The nursing team are responsible for all medical issues around the school. There are first aid kits available in most departments and two defibrillators located in the sports centre and outside Dalewood. The nurses have a wide range of medical policies some of which can be found on the school website, others are available on request. These are reviewed regularly in accordance with governance.