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Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 44 No. 1. March 2 1981
[Introduction]
The prescribing of pills, tablets, capsules, lotions and suppositories and the application of bandages, splints and dresssings is not the main function of the Student Health Service -although we do quite a bit of it. Meeting your needs is the primary objective of the service.
- the need for prophylactic vaccinations (Tetanus)
- your diet
- your physical fitness - or lack of it
- contraceptive advice
- the medication given you before you left home
- your skin condition
- your anxieties about this place
- your weight
- your vision to name a few.
A call at the Health Service does not carry with it an obligation to accept a bucket full of medicine.
During this academic year, there will be three doctors in attendance: Dr Ian Fleming and Dr Eric Bird, the third has yet to be appointed and two nurses, Lynne and Ann. All will hold clinics throughout the week and doctors are available for emergency service at night, in the weekends and over the holiday breaks. We have black bags to carry to your bedside if you're really very poorly - but we expect you to make an effort to get along to the clinics if at all possible. In addition, we have a consultant psychiatrist - Dr Ian McDougall who will visit the Health Service on Monday afternoons and all day Wednesday. You have to be referred to him by one of the doctors or the counselling service. The Health Service has close links with Wellington Hospital and the medical and surgical consultants in town.
To attend the doctors we ask you to make an appointment by phoning 721-000 ext. 802 or call in at the office located at 4 Wai-te-ata Road. (A path leads down from the harbour side of the building where the library is - the Rankine Brown Building.)
- have a chronic illness (asthma, diabetes, colitis, heart disease, etc.)
- are disabled In any way
- require maintenance treatment
- have a major health problem
to request a full medical check-up. This will enable us to make an early contact with those in one or other of the above categories, and give us an opportunity to assess the problem and ensure appropriate management.
The same confidentiality holds between student, doctor or nurse as in any professional situation. If you require information to be given to a tutor, a lecturer or the University administration, we insist that this be in writing and only on your specific request.