The Medical Centre

The Medical Centre is based in the main school and is run by Sister Purchase, Sister Bossina and Sister Hawkes, supported by the School Doctor.

A medical room, The Lavender Room, is also available exclusively for Sixth Form students. Girls may use this if unwell or need some quiet time during the school day and it is monitored by Sixth Form staff. This room is also used for Sixth Form drop-in clinics run by Sister Purchase every Thursday between 10.00am and 11.00am.

Contacting the Sister on duty

If you wish to speak to the Sister on duty regarding your daughter, you can contact her by telephone via the school, by letter, and email or in person by appointment. In accordance with the School Doctor’s and Nurse’s professional obligations, medical information about Students, regardless of their age, will remain confidential.

However, it is recognised that on occasions the Doctor and Nurse may liaise with the Head and other academic staff, Boarding staff and parents/ guardians, and that information, ideally with the Student’s prior consent, will be passed on as necessary.

With all medical and nursing matters, the Doctor and Nurse will respect a Student’s medical confidentiality, except on the very rare occasions when, having failed to persuade the student, or her authorised representative, to give consent to share information that the doctor or nurse considers is in the student’s better interests or necessary for the protection of the wider school community, to breach confidence as have a duty of care to pass information to a relevant person or body.

Sister Rebecca Purchase

01225 731007 / 07810 697369 r.purchase@rhsb.gdst.net

Immunisations

All routine immunisations for students are undertaken by your own GP and not through school. Please ensure that you inform us of dates of boosters for our school records. Please ensure your daughter’s medical record has up to date immunisation dates, obtained via your GP.

The Service we provide

We hope that your daughter will start her school day fit and well. However, if she becomes unwell during the course of the day, we are available to provide first aid and basic care for her until we are able to contact you. Day students living within the locality will already be registered with a General Practitioner and it is expected that for routine medical matters the GP will be consulted for appropriate advice. Boarding students will be registered with the School Doctor and the Medical Centre are able to arrange appointments and consultations on a student’s behalf.

However, if you have any worries about your daughter’s health that may affect her while she is at school, we

would be happy to discuss them with you and provide any necessary help and support. Please do not send your daughter into school if unwell.

If your daughter has a chronic health problem, suffers from a prolonged illness, or has to be admitted to hospital, please let us know so that we can offer her appropriate support on her return to school.

If medication is required during the school day by a student, this must be brought to the Medical Centre for safe keeping at the start of the day.

Medicines should be sent in their original container (not repackaged or relabelled) including the prescriber’s instructions for administration. Arrangements for collection of the medicine at the end of the day must also be clearly stated. Please complete the Administration of Medication in School form on Firefly.

No medication should be carried in school by students except Diabetic medication, Inhalers and Adrenaline pens. If your daughter suffers from asthma and uses an inhaler, please ensure a spare named inhaler is provided to be kept in the Medical Centre for emergency and trips / sporting fixtures.

Health checks

We offer all new students a school health check which is carried out by the School Sisters. The health check comprises a short examination of height and weight, an eye test and the opportunity for your daughter to express any health worries she may have.

Your written consent is requested on the Pupil Health Assessment form which you are requested to fill in prior to your daughter commencing at the Royal High School.