Student Health

Priorities for Health Services

There is a great deal of discussion within Health Services generally, and within Student Services, of how the ever increasing expenditure for services can be controlled. This question of how better value for a dollar can be given in Health Services leads us into a number of issues.

The Student Health Service at Victoria is supported by a grant given it by the University on an annual basis - the balance is met by routine payments for service claimed from the Health Department, Accident Compensation Commission and others.

In many other universities in New Zealand students contribute directly or indirectly to the Health Service budget. Because of the support given to the Health Service by the University here there is an additional incentive to ensure that expenditures are carefully considered and at the same time the health needs of the student population is well catered for.

The trend in the development of health services is away from traditional medical care to a role which is educational and which considers the total person-including their life style and environment. In this University Health Service we believe that a good deal of ill health is preventable if the opportunity is given for a total assessment. Facilities offered to those who are injured or have an acute illness do not provide the setting for this assessment. The University meets this need by offering facilities for students to discuss any aspect of their health which they may wish to discuss. In addition a full health assessment is offered.

Appointments will be forwarded to those who requested it at enrolment. Others may apply at any time during the year; we ask that you cooperate.

The Continuing Education Unit of Radio New Zealand will be broadcast at 11.30 am on Monday, 19th March, and daily during the week at the same time. The series will be continued with both morning and evening programmes later in the month. A brochure giving full details of these programmes is available at the Student Health Service.