Caring for your health and welfare needs

Nurse hours during term time

To book an appointment:

Book an appointment via the PPS online booking system using this link: https://ob.rushcliff.com/holding-page/565304

Students can email/call, if an appointment is required urgently.

Please note that the appointment booking system runs during full term only. At other times, please email to book an appointment – nurses@girton.cam.ac.uk

Nurse hours during the holidays

Please note that during the holidays, availability is subject to change.

Head of Welfare and Wellbeing

Deji is available for urgent enquiries, contact details are: 

• Email headofwelfare@girton.cam.ac.uk
• Or, please contact with the College Porters (Girton: 01223 338999, Swirles: 01223 760021)

If you need medical help/advice, you can contact:

• The Porters for First Aid advice (01223 338999) or porters@girton.cam.ac.uk, if you are resident in Girton.
• Your local pharmacy for over-the-counter advice.
• Your own GP Surgery or access NHS 111 (available across the UK), either by calling '111' or visiting 'Get help for your symptoms - NHS 111'.
• In more serious cases please attend A&E at Addenbrooke's Hospital (or the A&E nearest to where you are living over the holidays).
• For life-threatening emergencies call '999' for an ambulance.

 Other sources of help and support:

• For help in the event of a Mental Health issue please dial 111 and select option 2. This is available in the UK 24 hours a day.
• The Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or visit: Samaritans 
• Lifeline: a Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mental health helpline contactable between 11am to 11pm every day on Freephone: 0808 808 2121
• Shout: a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone struggling to cope – text 85258.

The College Nurses respect that all students are entitled to confidentiality and privacy. Any details shared by service users are treated as confidential and you will be asked for your consent before any of your information is passed on (if this is required). As with all other health services the college nurse cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality if there is concern for your safety and wellbeing or for the safety and wellbeing of others. Only in exceptional circumstances will your information be shared without your consent.

• Speak with the College Nurses.  You can book an appointment online or email.
• When appropriate the College Nurses will refer or signpost you onto other services. Any information shared with the College Nurses is kept in strict medical confidence.
• Alternatively you can arrange to meet with your College Tutor. 
• Porters are available twenty-four hours a day.

• The University Counselling Service website
• The Counselling Service is not an emergency service so if you need to speak with someone urgently, please see Emergency Contacts

• Make an appointment to see your GP.
• First Response Service:
  • This is an urgent mental health service is available in Cambridge for anyone, of any age. You can call 111, select option 2 and speak to a mental health professional 24/7.
  • A specialist healthcare professional, 'First Responder' will talk to you and assess your needs.
  •  Someone may come out to see you or arrange for you to go to The Sanctuary (open 6pm-1am, 7 days a week) which is a safe place providing support for people in crisis. 
• Please note that all medical emergencies still need to attend A&E at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
• We can all feel low, anxious or panicky from time to time. If you are concerned, use this simple NHS mood self-assessment tool to check your mood: Depression and anxiety self-assessment quiz
   

• The Samaritans: Here to listen
• Mind
• Young Minds - Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People
• Nightline

The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) offers a confidential and accessible service for all disabled students supporting access to your teaching and learning during your time at Cambridge. We are a student-centred service, committed to supporting disabled students to achieve to their academic potential.

Visit: https://www.disability.admin.cam.ac.uk/

Please make the nurses aware of any allergies you have. We recommend that if you do have allergies, that you carry any medication with you (having checked this is the correct dose and in date).

This is a useful link on managing allergies whilst at university: https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/living-with-serious-allergies/going-to-university/

Please see this link for guidance and recommendations for vaccinations and preventable diseases: https://www.studentsupport.cam.ac.uk/communicable-diseases. If this applies to you, please arrange an appointment with the nurses so we can discuss further.

You may find it useful to bring the following items with you:

• digital thermometer
• face coverings
• hand sanitiser
• facial tissues
• over-the-counter medication, e.g. paracetamol
• heat/ice pack

Immunisations/TB Screening

Are you protected against preventable infectious diseases?  

It’s important that your vaccinations are up to date before you come to Cambridge. If you don’t have a record of your immunisations, please contact your GP Surgery, and ask for a printout of your immunisation history.  Check whether you have received the required vaccinations or need a TB test.

Meningitis 

Students are strongly advised to have the Men ACWY conjugate vaccination before arriving in Cambridge.  

• Meningitis Leaflet (PDF) 
• www.studentwellbeing.admin.cam.ac.uk/nhs-and-healthcare/serious-illnesses
• A Student's Meningitis Story - Meningitis Now

First year university students are an ‘at risk’ group for meningitis. Please check out the signs and symptoms or download the Meningitis Now app to ensure you have help and information at your fingertips. Other information can be found here: 

Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) 

Students are strongly advised to have two doses of the MMR vaccination before arriving.  

• MMR Leaflet (PDF) 

Tuberculosis (TB) 

International students arriving from certain countries will be required to undertake a TB test as part of their visa application. 

• TB Screening Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants

Influenza (Flu) 

If you suffer from chronic lung, heart, kidney or liver disease, have diabetes or are otherwise immunosuppressed, you should already be offered a free annual flu jab.  

• Flu Vaccine - NHS

It would be sensible to consider having a ‘flu vaccine as the symptoms of seasonal ‘flu are similar to COVID-19. If you don’t qualify for a free ‘flu vaccine you can pay to have one at a pharmacy such as Boots, Lloyds or Superdrug. The cost is approximately £15.00 - £20.00, and you can book an appointment online. 

In some countries it is difficult to arrange the Meningitis ACWY or MMR vaccinations.  If this is the case, once you have registered with Huntingdon Road Surgery you can ‘phone and request an appointment to have the vaccination. MMR and Meningitis ACWY vaccination is free for students aged 25 years and under.

Most head injuries are not serious, but you should get medical help if you have any symptoms after a head injury. Please be aware that you do not have to sustain a head injury to develop concussion, nor does any injury have to be sports related - there can be many causes. Please seek advice if you are unsure. 

Useful resources:

• Head injury and concussion - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• The Concussion Recognition tool (5th edition). Provides guidance of red flags to look out for. (View PDF)

Rugby related head injury

• World Rugby guidance
• To follow a graduated return to physical activity and sports after a head injury, please look at World Rugby Passport - Graduated return to play (GRTP). The College Nurses can support you with this.
   

Drug and Alcohol Service, Cambridge, is a local service aimed at improving the outcomes for individuals, children, young people, families and communities affected by the misuse of alcohol and drugs in Cambridgeshire.

Their website provides up to date information of help and support locally, resources to download & the latest news relating to drugs and alcohol.

Frank helps you find out everything you might want to know about drugs (and some stuff you don't). For friendly, confidential drugs advice, Talk to frank.

• Call: 0300 123 66000 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year
• Text: 82111
• Email via website form: https://www.talktofrank.com/contact 

Drinkaware is an independent charity working to reduce alcohol misuse and harm in the UK.  Drinkaware aims to help people make better choices about alcohol.

• drinkaware.co.uk

Cambridge University works in partnership with a local eating disorder charity called the Personalised Eating Disorder Support. Students can self-refer or can seek support from the College Nurse who can help with referrals. 

If you have any queries or concerns, please speak with the College Nurses.

• Some students are eligible for help with health costs on the grounds of low income (not just because you are a student). If you qualify for support, you can apply by completing a HC1 form. You will then receive help towards the costs of NHS prescriptions, NHS dental care, sight tests, glasses and contact lenses.

You can apply for a HC1 form online or collect one from your GP surgery or dentist. 

Advice and support for any member of the LGBT+ community can be provided in college by the Nurses – please book an appointment online or email. Our student liberation officers or welfare officers can also offer support and run events for students. 

• Undergraduate (JCR) LGBTQ+ Officer 
• Transgender and Non-binary Officer 
• Postgraduate (MCR) LGBTQ Officer 
• Undergraduate (JCR) Welfare Officers

Support at the University

• University-wide Counselling service (UCS): You can request a queer and/or BME counsellor upon self-referral. 
• FUSE: A society for LGBT+ people of colour 
• LGBT+ Campaign provides a collection of resources and projects for LGBT+ liberation organised by the SU. 

See for example: The Trans Inclusion Guide is appropriate for cis people to educate themselves: it can be sent to tutors, for example.

External Sources of Support & Social Groups 

• The Kite Trust runs a trans+ social group in Cambridge. 
• Switchboard LGBT+ helpline, open 1000-2200 daily. 
• Galop support for LGBT+ victims of abuse, including hate crime victims. 
• MIND LGBTQIA+ mental health: Useful and extensive webpage produced by Mind, indexing LGBTQIA+ related mental health resources. 
• Mindline Trans+ is a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline and signposting service for people who identify as Trans, A Gender, Gender Fluid, Non-binary.

• Information and support is available at: www.meningitisnow.org
• Please familiarise yourself with the signs and symptoms of meningitis

Information for students: Getting medical care as a student - NHS

NHS 111

NHS 111 is the NHS non-emergency number. You should use NHS 111 online or call them when you need medical help or advice urgently but it's not a life-threatening situation, such as:

• you need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency
• you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
• you don't know who to call or you don't have a GP to call
• you need health information or reassurance about what to do next

For less urgent health needs, contact your GP or local pharmacy.

Calling 111 will connect you to a team of fully trained call advisers, supported by experienced nurses and paramedics. They will ask you questions to assess your symptoms, and give you healthcare advice or direct you to the local service that can help you best. That could be A&E, the out-of-hours medical service, an emergency dentist or a late-opening chemist etc.

Where possible, the NHS 111 team will book you an appointment or transfer you directly to the people you need to speak to.

If NHS 111 advisers think you need an ambulance, they will immediately arrange for one to be sent to you.
Information on health concerns, self-help and support organisations and local health services:

• NHS Website
• Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Addenbrookes and Rosie Hospital. 
• Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust - local community services.
• Addenbrooke's Accident and Emergency (A & E) Addenbrooke's Hospital - Hills Road, Cambridge. Tel: +44 (0)1223 217118

Please ensure any injury is first reviewed by your GP or at Hospital (depending on the type of injury – the College Nurses may be able to advise you on this).

A local physio available to support students is Luke Bowman who can be contacted by Email or by calling +44 (0)7399 499959. The College Nurses can signpost you to other support locally.

The following site has useful advice and exercise information to download at: https://www.eoemskservice.nhs.uk/advice-and-leaflets

As a new student you should register with a Cambridge GP as soon as you can when you first arrive in the city.  This way you can receive emergency care if you need it and access health services quickly and easily while you're at university. This is especially important if you have an ongoing health condition such as asthma, allergies, diabetes and epilepsy.

Cambridge GPs are experienced in dealing with students, and also in working with the University and Colleges. This is important if you are ill in the lead up to, or during your examinations and you need special exam arrangements or allowances to be made. 

Although students are not permitted to register with both a Cambridge GP and one at home, you can register in Cambridge in term time and see your home GP during the vacations by completing a temporary resident form, or by simply re-registering with your home GP. When required, Cambridge GPs are used to liaising with other Practices and Hospitals across the country and to sharing student records. If you need them, hospital appointments should not be affected as you can elect to be seen at any hospital.

You can choose to register with any local GP, although your college may suggest a Practice close by. Details of how to register with a GP are on the NHS website together with contact details of Cambridge GPs: How to register with a GP surgery - NHS. The nearest surgery to Girton College is Huntingdon Road Surgery and students can register here, if this is their choice: New Patients - Huntingdon Road Surgery

Please note: that the postcode for the main Girton site is CB3 0JG.  For Swirles Court, the postcode is CB3 1AQ. This information is useful when trying to find a GP nearest to you. 

Students can also choose to register with a GP surgery nearer to their Department, rather than accommodation.

The University Counselling Service offers support – see link: Sexual harassment and violence advice - University Counselling Service - Harassment and violence support (cam.ac.uk)

Alternatively, you can contact: SARC - Sexual Assault Referral Centre, The Elms, Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 6NT.  Tel: +44 (0)800 193 5434 

You can also contact the College Nurse.

iCaSH (integrated Contraception & Sexual Health services), is a national service providing all aspects of sexual health, including contraception, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) testing and treatment and genito-urinary medicine (GUM), All iCaSH services are self-referral, which means that a GP referral letter is not necessary.

For services in Cambridge, see: iCaSH Cambridgeshire

Their contact details are: Lime Tree Clinic, Brookfield’s Hospital, 351 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3DF.  Tel: +44 (0)300 300 3030.  

The service is free, confidential and non-judgemental.

• For STI testing at home: Click here to order a simple, free and easy to use home STI Test kit

Supplies available in College

• Free condoms, lubrication and sexual health information are available from the Health & Wellbeing Centre's waiting room (Corridor A, Girton College). The waiting room door is always open.
• Information includes leaflets on Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) - NHS (www.nhs.uk) and Your contraception guide - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Pregnancy tests are also available from the College Nurse who will perform the test and support you with this. 

Other sources of information:

• Dhiverse - Sexual Health Matters
• Sexwise - Advice about contraception, pregnancy, STIs and pleasure

• Fit For Travel
• Travel Health Pro
• British Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) - Information about this including how to apply