Safeguarding your health

The primary duty of a doctor is to ‘make the care of your patient your first concern’. Good Medical Practice requires doctors to take responsibility for their own health in the interests of public safety. Medical students should also follow this guidance.

The School of Medicine will give complete support to any student with psychological or physical health problems, but this is only possible if the School is aware of the problem. Learning to deal with chronically or very ill people can make medical students particularly vulnerable to ill-health. Please also refer to the information contained under the ‘Student Health and Support’ pages in this section of the website.

Immunisation, Screening and Vaccination

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Occupational Health Service provides Health Screening for all medical students joining the University. The screening is mandatory in the Freshers’ Medical Registration Programme. Immunisations protect against the acquisition of diseases encountered through training in the clinical environment and also the spreading of infectious diseases to colleagues and patients. The vaccination history of each student will be checked and the Occupational Health service will offer the provision of vaccination against and/or screen for the immune status to the following diseases; Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, Rubella and Varicella. If a student is in need of any other vaccination they are advised to follow this up through their own GP.

Registration with a General Practitioner

All students are MOST STRONGLY advised to register with a General Practitioner convenient for consultation during your studies in Leeds. For students living close to the University, this will normally be the Leeds Student Medical Practice on Blenheim Terrace.

Infectious diseases

If a student suspects that they have an infectious disease they must immediately cease contact with patients and seek medical advice. Common conditions such as rubella and chicken pox may be lethal to patients such as pregnant women or those who are immunocompromised. If there is any doubt as to whether the student is safe to return to work, then independent assessment through the Leeds Teaching hospitals NHS Trust Occupational Health Department is required. The GMC has stated that students who are Hepatitis B antigen positive cannot be involved in “exposure prone procedures” (EPPs) if their viral load is high. In essence students are not required to undertake EPPs, but as a qualified doctor you must know that your hepatitis B immune status may reduce your choice of specialities and your activities as a doctor. Further advice on this and any adjustment to study can be obtained from the Director of Student Support. All students are required to provide certification of their Hepatitis B status on initial registration.