What do we mean by good Health?
Health is a very difficult thing to describe and the aim of this part of the website is to give you enough information for you to decide if you have sufficient “Good Health”
Definition of Good Health
Good health is necessary to undertake practice as a nurse or midwife. Good health means that you must be capable of safe and effective practice without supervision. It does not mean the absence of any disability or health condition. Many disabled people and those with long-term health conditions are able to practise with or without adjustments to support their practice.
Long-term conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes or depression can be well managed and would then not be incompatible with registration.
Temporary health conditions do not necessarily mean a person is not fit to practise. For example having a broken leg may mean a person is not fit to work for a period of time. It does not mean they are not fit to practise as they can reasonably expect to recover fully and return to work.( NMC 2008)
Completion of the medical questionnaire
All students who are offered a place on a professional course are required to fill out a medical questionnaire. This questionnaire will then be sent to our Occupational Health Department and you will be required to consent to your GP being contacted should the Occupational Health Department have any queries.
If you have any concerns relating to your health you may wish to discuss it with your doctor before applying for the course.
You cannot be fully registered as a student on the programme until this process has been successfully completed. Until you are registered as a full time student you will not receive funding, either a bursary or a grant, and will not be able to start your placements on the programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some questions that may come to mind after looking at these areas are:
Q. Why do you need to know about my health when I am only at University?
A. If you are applying for a Nursing, Midwifery or Operating Department Practitioner or Paramedic programme at Edge Hill University, you will have placements in hospitals and other health settings. It is the responsibility of the University to ensure that you are safe while you are in practise and that the people you come into contact with are safe also. That may mean we have to make some adjustments before you go out into practice. We can’t do that unless we know about any problems you have.
What is meant by reasonable adjustment?
- NMC guidance
- HPC guidance (PDF)
Q Can I become a nurse, midwife or health professional if I have a health need such as asthma, diabetes, mental health needs, HIV or another long term chronic condition
A. There are many students with health needs that have successfully completed their training and have jobs but it is recommended that you discuss your condition with us before you apply. This is called a health disclosure. The following information may appear at first glance just to be relating to a disability however disclosure about your medical condition will allow us prepare you and your placement area for well in advance to support your progression on your programme. There will be other opportunities for you to discuss any concerns you may have, this maybe following your application, at your interview or when you commence the course. The sooner the better!
Q. What happens if I have a learning need such as dyslexia or dyspraxia or I feel I might need some extra support to get me through the course?
A. Edge Hill University has a wide range of resources that can support you once you are on the course and you can look at what is available by clicking on to the following link.
Q. What if I have a physical disability, can I still get on the course
A. Students with physical disabilities have successfully completed their health professional training at Edge Hill University.
All Universities have to comply with the Disability Discriminations Act 2005. This means that each person’s circumstances will be reviewed individually
Occupational Health
You will receive a health questionnaire which when completed you must have countersigned by your GP (there is a specific area on the last page of the questionnaire for your GP to sign and stamp). By countersigning your health questionnaire your GP is confirming that the information you have declared is in line with what is in your medical records, he or she may add comments to clarify information you have declared, if appropriate.
When completing your questionnaire you will see that you are requested to forward information regarding your vaccination/immunisation history, there will be additional information in your pack advising you as to where you can access this.
When your health questionnaire is received in the Health Work & Well-being Centre it will be assessed by an occupational health practitioner. At this point you may be contacted by telephone to clarify information you have declared on your health questionnaire or you may be invited in for a face to face health assessment. In order to comply with Department of Health guidelines all student midwives and student ODP’s will be required to attend for a face to face health assessment prior to the commencement of their course.
NB If you tick “yes” to anything on your health questionnaire; please give as much information as you can regarding this declaration, this may enable the OH practitioner to process your health questionnaire without having to contact you.
In some instances the OH practitioner may require further information from your GP, if this is the case they will discuss this with you and request your consent to approach your GP.
Open Days
There are many opportunities to see our facilities, meet staff and current students and to discuss any anxieties you may have about applying for a particular programme.
If you’re considering an undergraduate health programme, you may be interested in our monthly talks for prospective nursing students and bi-monthly talks for prospective midwifery students at the Ormskirk Campus.