Manchester students planning on starting university on a diet of alcohol and kebabs have been urged by GPs not to forget about their health.
As the notorious Freshers’ Flu begins its annual spread around the city’s campuses, students have been asked to be prepared and make sure they get the most appropriate care available.
Doctors are also warning students not to use A&E for illnesses which GPs would normally treat.
Dr Helen Hosker, GP and lead for urgent care at Central Manchester Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “It’s very important that students don’t forget their health needs and that they make registering with a GP in Manchester a priority.
“By signing up with a doctor they are ensuring that their health needs can be met appropriately and that their new practice can access prior medical history to get a complete picture.”
Some one hundred thousand students live and study in the city during term time and with the vast majority of them moving from elsewhere, doctors are also concerned about students’ state of mind.
Dr Hosker continued: “We also recognise that moving to a new city – or even a new country, starting a degree course and leaving family and friends behind can be a very daunting experience for some students, making them more vulnerable to depression or anxiety.
“This is just one illustration of why it’s so important that the right support is in place with a GP as soon as students get to the city.”
To register with a practice, a new patient needs to supply their name, date of birth, address, NHS number (if they know it) and details of their last GP.
Practise representatives will be manning stalls at both Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester from September 16 onwards.
Anyone who wants information about choosing a doctor in Manchester can visit: www.choosewellmanchester.org.uk
Image courtesy of Bristol06000, with thanks.
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