About Whitgift: The Medical Centre

  

The Medical Centre is equipped to deal with all aspects of physical, emotional, and social well-being as well as illness and physical injuries.

It is situated opposite the Gallery Car Park, within the School grounds.

School Medical Team

School Doctor: Dr C.Wilcock

Opening times:

Monday–Friday: 8am–6pm

Contact details:

Office: 020 8633 9944 (Mrs Petschi, Senior Nurse)
Surgery: 020 8633 2367

Email: Mrs Petschi: Nurse@whitgift.co.uk
           Nurses: Medicalteam@whitgift.co.uk

Medical cover during matches on Saturdays is provided by an on-site School Nurse and a Paramedic when necessary.

A completed Health Questionnaire is required from all pupils on admission to Whitgift.

DAY PUPILS

Day pupils who are taken ill at school will be cared for until they are fit enough to return to class, or arrangements are made for them to be collected and taken home, or taken to hospital for further treatment as deemed necessary.

Pupil medication

Please complete the Administration of Medication to Pupil Parental Request Form, which can be found in the Associated Documents below, and return this form to the School Medical Team by e-mail or post.

BOARDING PUPILS

Boarders will initially be cared for during the day by the School Medical Team, and out of school hours by the Matron/Housemaster. A School Nurse will also be on-call outside normal school hours.

The School Doctor will hold a weekly surgery for boarders, in the Medical Centre, on a Monday from 12.15–1.00pm. Appointments for the surgery should be made through the Medical Centre.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL PUPILS

Operations, accidents, severe illness, immunisation, or special treatment.

If your son has any of the above during the school term or in the holidays, you must inform the Senior School Nurse on his return to school. The information should be provided by means of a letter, supported if necessary by a report from the specialist concerned, and should include details of medicines and treatment recommended, if these need to be continued.

Infectious diseases
If, during the holidays, your son is exposed to anyone suffering from an infectious disease (e.g. Chickenpox or Mumps) they may return to school when the term begins, though the Senior School Nurse must be informed, if your son has not already had the disease.

Only in the unlikely event of contact with diphtheria, poliomyelitis, typhoid, paratyphoid fever, bacillary dysentery, meningococcal infection, hepatitis A or B, or HIV infection, should your son be kept at home until you have consulted a Doctor.

Tropical diseases
The Senior School Nurse must be informed if your son has been exposed to the risk of Malaria.

Immunisation
All immunisations should be up to date before arrival. Booster doses will be carried out as recommended by the World Health Organisation by Croydon Health in the Lower Fifth Form.

Food and other Allergies
Whitgift School aims to be a Nut-Free School, although this cannot be guaranteed.  As such we ask parents to be aware of this when providing lunches/snacks for your sons. If your son has any food allergies, please discuss these with the Medical Team, who will liaise with the General Manager of Catering.

Parents of pupils who have a serious allergy or allergies, are required to confirm annually that they have read the School’s Life-Threatening Allergies Policy and, where necessary, have provided the School with an adrenalin pen.  It is extremely important that the Medical Centre is kept informed of such allergies so that teachers are aware.  Staff are given Anaphylaxis training annually.

BOARDING PUPILS SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

All Boarders will be registered with the School Doctor, Dr.Wilcock.

Please note that, if your son needs to see a Doctor during the school holidays, you should only register him as a temporary resident.

Medication
Please note that no medication, including homeopathic remedies, may be brought into Whitgift School by a Boarder. If any medication is required, the School Medical Team will provide it. Non-prescription medication will be provided under the School Homely Remedies Protocol, available on request.

Please complete the Administration of Medication to Pupil Parental Request Form, which can be found in the Associated Documents below, and return to the School Medical Team by e-mail or post.

Visits to the Dentist, Optician and other Specialists
These should preferably be arranged during the school holidays, but can be arranged during term time by the School Doctor/Nurse, if necessary. Parents are encouraged to accompany their sons to all appointments though, if this is not possible, a member of staff will accompany them. Parents may be charged for transport. Staff will endeavour to inform parents of the visit and the outcome.

The School does not provide its own Dental service but has access to a private Dentist for emergencies.

Overseas Travel
Please write to the Senior School Nurse giving at least six weeks’ notice, specifying the vaccinations required for travel overseas. Please note that these may incur an extra charge. If prescription anti-malarial drugs are required, these can be issued on a private prescription by the School Doctor, and will incur a charge.

Sports Injuries - Rehabilitation Team

Jon Teyletche – Osteopath
Clinic times
Tuesday and Wednesday: 3–5pm
Appointments are available via Mr Osborne, Director of Sport (ago@whitgift.co.uk)

Sally Kibble - Sports Therapist
Clinic times 
Daily:1–2pm
Friday: 4–5pm
Appointments are available via the Sports Hall Reception.