Health and Well-being Center and Medical Procedures

IMMUNIZATIONS

1. Guidelines

According to American, British, and EU school health guidelines, all students should have the following up-to-date immunizations before arriving at school in the UK. This Vaccination checklist is based on current NHS guidelines:

At what age is the immunization due? Which immunization?

• At two months - Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis [whooping cough], polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b [Hib] given as a 5-in-1 single shot known as DTaP/IPV/Hib; Pneumococcal infection; Rotavirus vaccine

• At three months - 5-in-1, second dose [DTaP/IPV/Hib]; Meningitis C; Rotavirus vaccine, second dose

• At four months - 5-in-1, third dose [DTaP/IPV/Hib]; Pneumococcal infection, second dose

• At 12 to 15 months - Hib, Men C booster; MMR [measles, mumps, and rubella], given as a single shot; Pneumococcal infection, third dose

• 2 and 3 years - Annual flu vaccine

• 3 years and 4 months, or soon after - MMR second shot; Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis [whooping cough], and polio given as a 4-in-1 single shot known as DTaP/IPV

• Around 12-13 years - Cervical cancer [HPV] vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer [girls only]: three shots given within six months

• 13 to 18 years - Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus (Revaxis) One Injection 3-in-1 (Td/IPV); Meningitis C booster

• For up-to-date immunization information, please refer to the Department of Health website.

2. TASIS England Immunization Requirements

All students are required to have the above immunizations up to date, except for medical or religious exemptions. Please make sure nursing staff are kept updated on any changes to immunization status throughout the school year. It is also highly recommended that the students be immunized against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Many boarding/day schools and colleges in the USA are now requiring these immunizations. There is a charge for all Hepatitis, flu, and “travel” immunizations, as they are not covered under the NHS. To promote a healthier school population, the Health and Well-being Center is also recommending annual flu vaccinations for all boarding students. Whereas this immunization does not prevent flu completely, it can greatly decrease its effect if contracted.

DAY STUDENT MEDICATIONS

Parents of day students who bring medication to school are required to complete the Regular Medication Form, identifying the prescription drug and explaining the need and expected duration of the treatment. All medication must be in the original containers with clear prescribed instructions and labeling. Controlled medications such as those used in the treatment of ADD/ADHD, depression, etc. are dispensed daily by the nurses in the Health and Well-being Center and parents must complete the Regular Controlled Medication Form and provide a letter from the prescribing doctor detailing the medication, dose, and timings so the nurse can administer the medication safely. Students are not permitted to carry any medications on their person (apart from EpiPens and inhalers) and must submit all medications to the Health and Well-being Center.

BOARDING MEDICAL INFORMATION

All students are required to have current medical history information on file with the school’s Health and Well-being Center. The nurses are the only individuals on the faculty who may grant excused absences for boarding students from school commitments for medical reasons. The nurses may make boarding student referrals to other qualified medical personnel and facilities, and should be contacted for boarding student medical appointments.

BOARDING STUDENT MEDICATION

Boarding students are required to register all medications with the school nurse immediately upon arrival at school or receipt of the prescription. Any non-registered drug or medicine may be considered “illegal” or “unauthorized.” Boarding students do not need to keep any over-the-counter medications, as the Health and Well-being Center can provide any medication that may be required. The school doctor will be able to prescribe any other medications that may need to be taken. Please do not send antibiotics, except for chronic conditions such as acne, Crohn’s, etc. If your child requires occasional antibiotics, the school doctor will see him/her so that the appropriate antibiotic may be prescribed. All approved medications are to be kept in the student’s locked cupboard at all times and must never be given to another student. If there is an infraction of any rules, all medications will be confiscated and kept in the Health and Well-being Center.

Controlled medications such as those used in the treatment of ADD/ADHD, depression, etc., are dispensed daily by the nurses in the Health and Well-being Center. Boarding students are not permitted to keep these medications in their dormitories. Parents must confirm the student’s diagnosis and the medication prescribed. Parents must also provide a letter from the prescribing doctor detailing the medication, dose, and timings so the nurse can administer the medication safely.

BOARDING STUDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION

All boarding students will receive a basic nurse medical/well-being check in their first few weeks at TASIS England. This will allow an introduction to the Health and Well-being Center, identification of any health problems, and discussion about how to access the health care, as well as passing any concerns on to the school doctor.

BOARDING STUDENT DENTAL HEALTH

We strongly recommend that your child have a dental check before school commences, as British dental fees are often considered high, and this also saves your child from losing class time. Dental care is extremely difficult to obtain under the NHS. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you take out private dental insurance. It is advised for all students to have semi-annual dental examinations at home.

ACCIDENT AND BELONGINGS INSURANCE

Accident and belongings insurance is included in the boarding fees.

MEDICAL INSURANCE

Medical insurance coverage is mandatory for boarding students and is the responsibility of the parents. It is highly recommended that parents purchase the school medical insurance cover, which is available through AXA PPP, who offer cover at a premium of around £246 for the school year. Parents of new students must complete an application form and send it to the TASIS England Business Office. Returning students who currently have AXA PPP medical insurance will receive an email giving details of the medical insurance for the next academic year; they do not need to complete another application form. When medical insurance cover is confirmed by AXA PPP, parents will be invoiced accordingly. This cover allows nursing staff to quickly deal with referrals to specialists and physiotherapists. Information on this cover and the cost is forwarded to boarding families in the summer mailing.

Parents who have personal medical insurance and do not wish to take advantage of the cover provided by AXA PPP must provide the TASIS England Business Office with proof of their medical insurance cover, including the company, contact address, and telephone numbers. Parents/Guardians must understand that nursing staff are unable to deal with private medical insurers, as they will only deal with the parents who are named on the policy.

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE (NHS) ENTITLEMENT: TASIS ENGLAND POLICY

Any student who is already an NHS patient must register with the School’s doctor and submit their NHS details. It is a parental responsibility to declare a student’s entitlement to NHS benefits and to bring their NHS details to the school nurse so that the student can be registered with the school doctor. If the NHS does not cover a student, all medical expenses are deemed “private” and patients are billed accordingly. As NHS patients, if specialist treatment is required, they are put on waiting lists and seen according to their deemed priority. Services such as physiotherapy are extremely difficult to obtain on the NHS and may differ from the service available in your own country. Therefore, we require boarding students to take out appropriate private medical insurance to cover any costs.

UK GUIDELINES

The current regulations and guidelines for NHS entitlement for students coming to the United Kingdom from abroad are available here. Click on the “Visiting or moving to the UK” tab. If you are studying in the UK for six months or more, you will generally be entitled to free medical care on the NHS. Visits to the doctor or a hospital are free, but there is a charge for some drugs, dental, and optical (eye) services. If you must see a specialist, you must first be seen by your local doctor, who will arrange a referral.

ONE-SEMESTER STUDENTS

If you are studying in the UK for less than six months and normally reside in a country with a reciprocal healthcare arrangement, you may also be able to get free NHS treatment. Many countries, including the USA, do NOT have a reciprocal healthcare arrangement with the UK. Students from these countries may see British doctors but will have to pay a private consultation fee.