International - University of Teesside

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HEALTH CAREPreparing for the British climateThe British weather can seem cold and damp to manystudents, particularly those used to warm climates. It is bestto make sure that you have warm clothes and that youdress in layers, ie shirts and sweaters over T-shirts, with ajacket or overcoat on top. It is a good idea to have awaterproof coat and a pair of strong shoes. You will alsoneed gloves, hats and scarves in the winter. It may becheaper to buy these things in the UK when you arrive.Looking after yourselfWhen you are in a new country, it is sometimes easy toconcentrate on your studies and forget to take care ofyour health. A different climate, unfamiliar food, expensiveclothing and heating costs can make it more difficult tokeep healthy.To keep warm, dress in layers, and don't be worried howyou look – British students may be more used to the coldand damp weather and wear less. If your clothes get wet,make sure that when you take them off, you dry themthoroughly before wearing them again.If you come from a warm climate, you may have additionalproblems. British houses are not always well designed tokeep out the cold. Make sure that the rooms you live andwork in are warm enough and that you have plenty ofwarm blankets and bedding. Be careful not to overheat yourrooms as heating costs can be expensive, particularlyelectricity, and you'll feel even colder when you do have togo out.WHAT FOOD SHOULD I EAT?If you are cooking for yourself, eating the right food (andenough of it) is vital to staying healthy and warm. This isnot easy if the foods you normally eat at home can't bebought here. Try to ensure that you have a balanced diet ofreadily available food.Cheap protein foods can be used instead of the moreexpensive meat and fish, and these include beans, peas,lentils and nuts.Prices vary considerably, so shop around and look out forspecial offers and cheaper cuts of meat. Buy the vegetablesthat are 'in season', ie locally grown and available withoutbeing imported, and be prepared to experiment – it canbe fun!Supermarkets will have everything you need, but can beexpensive. Street markets selling meat, fish, eggs, cheeseand vegetables can be much cheaper.If you do eat out, then the Refectory in the Students' Unionis a very good, cheap option. Some restaurants can beexpensive, although smaller cafes can offer value for money.'Fast food' takeaway restaurants are plentiful, but are oftenrelatively expensive and the food less nutritious.COLDS AND FLUIn the winter, especially, a lot of infections such as colds andflu are passed around. You may be less immune to themthan the British students. Apart from eating well, keepingwarm and getting enough sleep, there is little you can do toavoid catching a cold. If you do, you may find that staying inbed for a day or so, and taking paracetamol and lots ofliquids may be enough. If the symptoms get worse, or ifyou are worried, then you should make an appointmentto see the Student Health Adviser or your doctor.SEXBritish attitudes to sex may be different from those in yourown country. It is often accepted that people who areinvolved in a relationship may have sex together although, ofcourse, the choice is a personal one. You are free to liveaccording to your own personal standards and shouldn'tfeel pressured to adopt those of your fellow students.Information on all matters of health can be obtained fromthe Well-Being Centre in the Brittan Building for Sport andRecreation or from the Students' Union Advice Centre.Food can be divided into four main groups and it'simportant to try to eat at least one item from eachgroup per day:• bread, rice, pasta or cereals• milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter or margarine• fresh fruit and vegetables• meat, fish or eggs28 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT HANDBOOK
Registering with a GP (doctor)If your course is six months or longer, you can get freehealth care from the British National Health Service (NHS)on the same basis as anyone who is ordinarily resident in theUK. This is from the beginning of your stay and you areentitled to free treatment in NHS hospitals and may registeras a patient with an NHS GP (doctor).Spouses and children under the age of 16, or 19 if still atschool, will also be entitled. If you are from a country withwhich the UK has a reciprocal health agreement, you willbe covered even if your stay is for less than six months,but only if the need for your treatment arose while youwere visiting in the UK.If your course is for less than six months, and you are fromthe EEA, you should bring your European Health Insurancecard with you. If you are not from a country with which theUK has a reciprocal agreement, you are advised to obtainhealth insurance for yourself and any dependants from areputable company before you travel to the UK.You will need to register with a GP as an NHS patient assoon as possible after you enrol. Contact the University'sStudent Centre for advice and information about healthtreatment.You should register with a doctor's surgery close to whereyou live. Lists of local GPs are available from the StudentCentre and the Students' Union Advice Centre. If you arereceiving regular medical treatment or medication, it isstrongly recommended that you bring details with you togive to your GP.To register with a doctor you simply need to visit thesurgery during consulting hours and ask to be included onthe doctor's list of NHS patients. You will need to take yourletter of confirmation from the University, your passport andproof of your UK address, eg your tenancy agreement. If thedoctor decides to accept you, you will then be sent amedical card, which will carry your NHS number. Take carenot to lose this. If the doctor cannot accept you, tryelsewhere or contact the local Family PractitionerCommittee. You can get the address from the post office orany doctor. You can also register with a doctor during theStudents' Union Welcome Week, which takes place inSeptember.Consultations are free but you will be asked to paysomething towards the cost of medicines – the cost iscurrently £6.85 per item. Find out the consulting hours ofyour doctor and ask whether or not you need to make anappointment. You may also be given an appointment with anurse practitioner who is a nurse specially trained to treatminor illnesses such as coughs, colds, sore throats, diarrhoeaand ear/eye infections. Appointments are for one persononly and usually last for about ten minutes. Remember to beon time for any appointment that you make – doctors andnurses often have busy schedules. If you are unable to go tothe appointment, please telephone the surgeryto tell them that you cannot attend. If you are seriously ill,the doctor can be called out to see you.Once you are registered with your doctor, you should tellyour warden, landlord/lady, or a friend the name andtelephone number of your doctor, so that if you are takenill suddenly, they can be called out to see you. Rememberto keep any leaflets about the GP practice in a safe place.You will need this information if you are ill and needmedical attention outside normal consulting hours,including weekends and holiday periods.Hospitals provide specialist treatments or treatment forwhich any kind of extended stay is required. Your doctorwill recommend you to go if it is necessary.Emergency treatment following accidents or emergencymedical conditions, such as difficulty breathing or chest pain,is free for everyone. In Middlesbrough, the Accident andEmergency Department is at the James Cook UniversityHospital on Marton Road. If you need an emergencyambulance, you should ring 999 (calls are free).NHS DIRECTThis is a free and confidential 24-hour service that providesyou with information and advice on a range of health issues.You can call free on 0845 4647 or visitwww.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.HEALTH CARE 29
Page 3: CONTENTS1 INTRODUCTION AND UNIVERSI
Page 7 and 8: IMMIGRATIONBefore you arrive -a bri
Page 9 and 10: • wage slips for the last three m
Page 12 and 13: APPROXIMATE COSTSWEEKLY ANNUAL£ £
Page 14 and 15: OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDINGEuropean Co
Page 17 and 18: Air travel to the UKIf you are flyi
Page 19 and 20: By TrainTrains from Dover go to var
Page 21 and 22: UNIVERSITY OF TEESSIDEImportant dat
Page 23 and 24: Orientation ProgrammeThe main Orien
Page 25 and 26: MethodistLinthorpe Road - Sundays a
Page 27: Drop-in Student Skills Centre(DISSC
Page 31 and 32: EMPLOYMENT ANDPLACEMENTSYou can fin
Page 33 and 34: USEFUL ADDRESSES ANDTELEPHONE NUMBE
Page 35 and 36: IndexAccommodation 16Addresses 33Ad

International - University of Teesside

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