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Student Health • Polytechnics
Dr A R Broadbent, Senior Medical Officer
Occupational Health reports:—
'The polytechnic student population showed an
increase of approximately 10% over the 1966
numbers and the range of educational and
vocational courses was extended. The general
health of the students during the year was good.
Efforts were made to develop the health and
welfare team approach to the problems of student
care.
'The health and welfare team in a college
consists of the student tutors, the welfare officer,
the nurse and the doctor. There must be close
liaison between these members of the team in
order that early symptoms and signs of disease
can be detected and treated. Students are not a
very health conscious group generally, but interest
in personal health can be developed by discussion
with members of the health team.
'Over two hundred medical consultations were
carried out during the year. About two thirds of
these consultations were concerned with student
problems of a psychological or emotional
character. In a few cases specialist psychiatric
treatment was necessary. However, the majority
of the conditions resolved following counselling
and supportive therapy. About one third of the
medical consultations were concerned with
physical disease, usually of an acute or minor
nature. The college welfare officers and tutors
also undertook a large number of consultations
with students and the fact that there was no overt
student unrest in either polytechnic was, in no
small measure, due to the provision of readily
available student consultation facilities.
'During the year, lectures and talks on student
health matters were given to academic staff,
parents and students. Subjects covered included
the physical and psychological development in
adolescence, student health problems and the
adolescent in the family and the community.
Students joining the colleges attended an induction
course; one lecture in this course was devoted to
personal health and the use of the health service.
'Several minor environmental problems were
dealt with during the year in the colleges. It is
necessary for a college medical officer to make
periodic visits to laboratories and workshops in
order to detect possible toxic or hazardous
working conditions. Several cases of contact
dermatitis of the hands in students and staff at
one college were found to be due to the use of a
harsh abrasive soap powder. When a suitable
liquid soap was provided no further cases
occurred.
'The canteens and kitchens of the colleges were
visited during each term and dietary and hygiene
matters were discussed with the managers and
staff.
'Student health services in local authority
colleges are developing services. They have to
care for students of a wide age range, of a wide
range of ability, and of varied background. The
educational and vocational courses followed cover
a broad field of learning. While the physical health
of students is generally good and is well cared for,
their emotional development is at considerable
risk in contemporary society.
'The student health and welfare team must be
alert to abnormal and prolonged symptoms of
mental stress occurring in students, and be able to
treat these disturbances when they occur, by the
case conference approach, so that major
psychological illness will be avoided in most
cases.'
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