Health Centre

The health and well-being of our students is of prime importance at St Joseph’s College. The purpose of the college Health Centre is to provide a professional health service to the school community as a whole.

During term time, the Health Centre is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is always staffed by a registered nurse.

The college doctor, Dr Charles Abercrombie, is available for consultation each week-day morning at 8am. In Dr Abercrombie’s absence another doctor will attend to consultations. Students must make an appointment with a nursing sister to see the doctor. Please note this service is for boarders only.

Outside the doctor’s normal hours, students in need of a doctor are referred to the local hospital.

The purpose of the health centre is to provide a professional health service to the school community as a whole.

The staff provide:

• primary health care to students
• emergency care, including first aid, to the college community
• health promotion and education within the school environment
• advice regarding referrals to allied health professionals (e.g. dental, physiotherapy, school counsellor)

The Health Centre undertakes continual self-review of its procedures and practices. During self-review the policies of the Department of Health and Department of Education and Training are used as guidelines. Equipment is reviewed as required by guidelines – from daily to annually.

Students with special needs

Parents of students with special health and dietary needs are encouraged to contact the Health Centre staff to discuss any concerns.

Illness at school

All students who are ill at the college must present to the Health Centre. If they leave class to do so, they must have written permission from their teacher.

Day Students:

If a day student is sick, parents should keep him at home and notify the Health Centre.

If a day student becomes ill or is injured at school he will attend the Health Centre. If he is unable to return to class, his parents will be notified and asked to collect him.

Boarders

If a boarding student is unwell or injured he will report to the Health Centre and be assessed, treated and, if necessary, referred on by the nursing sister. If a boarding student is to unable to return to school he will be put into a bed in the Health Centre and parents will be notified as soon as practicable.

If any student needs to be transferred to hospital, parents will be notified as soon as possible.

Absentees

If a day student is to be absent from school for all or part of a day parents must notify the Health Centre staff by 8am daily so as the relevant staff can be made aware. Please telephone (02) 9816 0808 to notify the Health Centre.

Appointments

If an appointment has been made outside the college for a student he may travel by public transport (by himself) or via taxi. A Gap student (graduate student on exchange from the UK) may be available to travel with younger students, however Gap students only travel by taxi and may have other more pressing duties at that time. The cost of the taxi will be debited to the parents’ account.

Students going to appointments outside the college must travel in their Blues.

Medication

No student is permitted to have any medication (prescription or over the counter) on his person without his parents speaking to the Health Centre nursing staff. Students are permitted to keep asthma and some other medication after it is cleared with the Health Centre.

No student will be given permission to keep schedule 4 or 8 drugs (e.g. Ritalin, anti-depressants) under any circumstances. These drugs must remain in a locked cupboard in the Health Centre.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions are filled on week days by the college’s local pharmacy. The cost of prescription medications is debited to parents’ credit card at the end of the month (credit card details are held by the college’s Bursars Office).

Medical consent

Medical records are maintained for each student during his years at the college. Parents are asked to complete a new form each year. This is extremely important to ensure the proper care is provided for all students. All medical records remain confidential and only information which is considered necessary for the well-being and safety of students will be given to the relevant staff.

Vaccinations

Parents should ensure their son is up to date with his vaccinations, and advise Health Centre staff of vaccinations so records can be kept up to date. Most vaccinations are done by NSW Health through the college, however the Health Centre offers annual flu vaccinations to students.

Sports injuries

Students are asked to present to the Health Centre or appropriate first aid station with any injuries. The Health Centre staff can provide strapping when it is required by a student and the cost of strapping tape is debited to the parents’ credit card. Ice machines (for injuries) are available in certain areas of the college. Students may be referred for physiotherapy or X-rays and the providers of these services will bill parents directly. Mouthguards can also be purchased at the Health Centre.

Health Centre contact details
Phone/Fax: (02) 9816 0808
General email: health@joeys.org