Student Advice
It is evident that there is an ongoing and steady rise in the incidence of swine flu cases. The expected pandemic has not yet occurred but as you will know all Trusts have plans in place to manage the position.
As a student in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences you are in a fairly unique position. Like other students you will be concerned with assessments and the possible disruption to your studies that a pandemic might bring. However, added to this you are studying to join professions that are at the front line of the pandemic because they are designated essential services.
The Faculty has worked very closely with all employers in the health and social care sectors, as well as with the professional bodies, to ensure that there is minimal disruption to your studies. The University has plans for the maintenance of all essential services and functions and of course this will involve teaching. You should regularly check the University web site for details of the current University position. UWE has an excellent and comprehensive advice section on the web site :
http://www.uwe.ac.uk/advice/health/flu.shtml
In the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences we are aware that our students have a different possible scenario when it comes to supporting front line services. It is quite possible that many staff in the health and social care services will be absent during this time. Of course, this will coincide with increased use of the health and social care services as people become ill or seek advice and support.
Our Strategic Health Authority in the South West and the Professional Bodies have given guidance to us and our practice partners. We have used this guidance to produce the following advice for students who are either in practice or about to go out to placement. This guidance may be updated as guidance changes in response to new circumstances.
Q1. If I have swine flu will I go into placement?
A - No – If you feel unwell you should following your usual protocol for notifying us and your placement that you are off sick. The above link shows you how to report that you have swine flu.
What will happen when I recover, will I be able to go directly into placement?
Q2. How do I know that I have got swine flu?
A - All the available advice and evidence says that we all could experience slightly different reactions to the virus. The UWE web pages explain this further and how to manage your symptoms. The bottom line is that if you feel unwell, tell us anyway whether it is “officially” swine flu or not.
Q3. What should I do if I am a carer for someone and they are ill with swine flu or they are at home because, for example their school is closed?
A - We recognise that absences in these circumstances happen all the time. We expect you to make all efforts to attend practice and use your usual support if at all possible.
Q4. If someone I live with has been diagnosed with swine flu should I stay at home so as not to spread it?
A – There is no indication that you will get the flu or can carry it. Therefore you should only not go into practice if you have any of the symptoms
Q5. I have heard that some students in health and social care are to be classed as “ front line staff” and will be among the priority groups for vaccination. Is this true?
A- Many of our service partners have made arrangements for students to be included in vaccination plans.
Q6 I don’t want a vaccination . Can I be made to ?
A - While a vaccination is obviously not compulsory , at times when a vaccination may not only limit your chances of getting seriously ill with the swine flu virus but also help contain the spread of the virus, we would support the DH view that all front line staff should be vaccinated.
Q7. What happens if my mentor/supervisor goes off sick?
A - The normal process will apply as any instance when you need to move mentors/supervisors – you will be allocated another.
Q8 . But there may be so few staff that I will be left without an alternative mentor – what happens then?
A - It is highly likely that as this happens the placement organisation will have made some announcements about the level of service they are able to provide. We will be informed of this and in effect close the placement.
Q9 . If the placement closes will I be allocated another one?
A - If a placement closes we will work with the placement provider to find another one. At some point this may not be possible and then you will be withdrawn from placement.
Q10 . I am studying on a programme where there is a requirement for a set number of hours in practice in order to satisfy the professional body – what happens if I fall short of this?
A - Like any absence, if you fall short of the requirement you have to make the time up. In this case the shortfall might not be your fault but you will still have to make the time up. If the professional body and the SHA consider differently we will let you know. Both the University and practice want you to finish your course as close to the usual timeframe of 3 years as possible and we will do all we can to make sure this happens.
Q11. Will students be expected to support front line services if there are no other staff around?
A - At this stage it is altogether unclear how many staff will be affected. We have agreed that you will not be automatically placed on the front line although there may be occasions when this is unavoidable. Hopefully staffing plans of the placement provider will be activated.
Many organisations particularly in the NHS will have a policy for recruiting volunteers. The University has negotiated a Scope of Practice with the NHS Trusts to allow for types of work etc to be articulated. You will not be asked to step outside your competence level and we have agreements that you will be given full training and orientation to other roles and functions. It is likely that in this scenario other people with experience of service delivery will be volunteering too.
Q12. Will I be paid for this volunteering role?
A - It is likely that some volunteers will be offered an honorary contract
Some organisations may well pay their volunteers. It is however at the very basic a volunteering process at a critical hour of need.
Finally – what can I do to prevent the spread of the virus ?
Again – look at this link and read the information about good hygiene.
http://www.uwe.ac.uk/advice/health/flu.shtml