College Nurse and Surgery
If life is at risk, such as: Â heart attack, stroke, anaphylaxis, severe bleeding, or difficulty breathing: please call 999 or 112 to speak to NHS emergency services.Â
Appointments for the Nurse can be booked online. If no appointments are available please contact your GP or 111.
Nurse Surgery & Services
The College Surgery is located in 48a, in the court behind the Archives Centre as you approach from the direction of the Porters Lodge.
It is open daily during the week in term-time for all students, staff, visiting fellows and conference delegates. Out of term, the surgery will be open on reduced hours.
Our College Nurse is Karen MacGinley, who is typically on site 08:00 – 16:00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in term times.
| DATE | DAY | OPEN | CLOSE |
| 18th | MON | 08.00 | 12.00 |
| 19th | TUE | closed | closed |
| 20th | WED | 09.00 | 12.00 |
| 21st | THUR | 08.00 | 12.00 |
| 22nd | FRI | closed | closed |
| 23rd | SAT | closed | closed |
| 24th | SUN | closed | closed |
Health advice will be offered after assessment. The minor ailments and injuries which are commonly seen are headaches, eye infections, splinters, grazes, cuts, blisters, minor burns, sprains, strains, colds, flu, diarrhoea, sore throats, cystitis, boils and some rashes.
A small stock of homely remedies are available, such as: painkillers, sore throat lozenges and antihistamines. Ice packs, crutches, bandages, eye wash, plasters and dressings are also available. Please ensure you carry two adrenaline pens at all times if you have been prescribed them for severe allergies. Please note, controlled drugs, antibiotics and prescription drugs are not available from the Nurse Surgery.
The nurse is a member of the C-card scheme and can supply condoms, lube and chlamydia test kits as well as sexual health advice.
The nurse is also able to carry out blood pressure and temperature checks, urine analysis, weight checks, and BMI calculations. Removal of sutures and dressing changes can also be arranged. Advice will also be given on computer workstation set-up if requested.
Patients presenting with more serious problems may be directed to Accident & Emergency, a General Practitioner or the Wellbeing Co-ordinator. Help may also be offered to arrange appointments and transport. The Nurse may also visit patients discharged from the hospital who may need short-term support.
There are various leaflets/booklets available at the surgery: insomnia, anxiety, relaxation, eating healthily etc. The nurse may refer you to other agencies: counsellor, GP, dentist, Accident & Emergency, sexual health clinic or a mental health assessor.
Face-to-face or telephone appointments are available. Appointments can be booked online. She can also be contacted at nurse@chu.cam.ac.uk. Emails are attended in working hours only.
Please do call in if you are feeling low and/or need to talk.
If you become ill
An undergraduate or postgraduate who falls ill should ensure that their Tutor and College Nurse are informed as soon as possible. Also try to get a message to your Supervisor and Director of Studies explaining any necessary absences.
Anyone with any kind of illness, disability or other difficulty likely to affect his or her performance in examinations should consult the Welfare Team during the Lent term so that all possible help can be organised before the start of the exams.
It is also essential to inform your Tutor so that steps can be taken to alert the University Board of examinations to your problem. It also makes sense to visit your Cambridge GP so that they are aware of your problem, and is in a position if need be, to provide evidence of the severity and duration of your illness.
Chronic illness
Any member of College suffering from a chronic medical condition or disability, or who is undergoing long-term treatment for any reason, should inform the College Nurse. This could be of great assistance in the event of illness or accident. The Nurse and Catering Manager should be informed of any food allergies. It is also helpful if students are willing to inform their Tutors of such conditions.
Food allergies; anaphylaxis
The University has produced a set of guidelines for dealing with the fact that an increasing number of people are vulnerable to severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) which can affect the entire body within a few minutes of exposure to the allergen and lead to death if not treated promptly. There are several causes of which certain components of food (especially nuts) are the most common (others include insect bites). Students are encouraged to carry two autoinjectors if prescribed.
Student guide to using NHS services in Cambridge
Click here to view or download the Student Guide to NHS services in Cambridge. The guide contains useful information and guidance for all students on local health services including:
- Self care / looking after yourself
- Pharmacies
- NHS 111
- Mental health services
- College nurses
- GPs
- Meningitis ACWY vaccine
- Patient Experience Team
- Other local NHS services and A&E
Further health advice can also be found online:
Other useful numbers & resources
Please note: this is general information and liable to change, so please check rules at the point of care.
- College Counsellor (via Wellbeing Coordinator): email wellbeing@chu.cam.ac.uk (telephone counselling available)
- Access and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) for physical disabilities, ongoing mental health problems or specific learning difficulties T: 01223 332301
- Doctor (out of hours): Call 111 for advice.
- Mental Health crisis: Call 111 (then choose option 2)
- Samaritans 24hr (listening in a crisis): Call 116 123
- Rape & Sexual Assault: Information for students
- Student Advice Service: Call 01223 746999
- Nightline: University Nightline, someone to talk to: Open nightly during full term. Call: 01223 744444 (7pm-8am)
Confidentiality Statement
Information shared with the nurse is confidential. If it is in the interest of the student for information to be shared with other Health Professionals or University Staff then informed consent will normally be gained first.
Confidentiality will need to be broken if there appears to be a serious imminent risk, or if there are serious illegal activities, where there is a risk to your own or others safety.
General Data Protection
Medical records, generated by the College Nurse, are kept securely. Any records managed according to the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA).
Taxi provision
Churchill students who are unable to travel by foot, cycle or public transport to get to academic commitments or medical appointments due to injury or illness, may obtain, with the approval of the College Nurse (or in her absence the Duty Porter), taxi chits from the Porters’ Lodge to cover taxi costs.
If students still require taxi transport after a week and cannot afford to pay for it themselves, they may, with the approval of the College Nurse regarding medical need, and their Tutor’s support regarding financial need, apply for the College’s provision of taxis to continue on the grounds of financial hardship. This application should be made via their Tutor.
