Looking after your physical health

There's lot of ways your local pharmacy can help and university students in Leeds are being encouraged to use them for help and advice on common health problems.

We recommend that you remain registered with your home dentist if this is possible, as there tends to be long waiting lists for NHS dentists. However, if it is not possible for you to do this there are plenty of dental practices within easy reach of Leeds city centre.

You can find local NHS dental practices that are accepting new patients on the NHS Choices website, or alternatively you can call NHS 111 and speak to an advisor.

You can also access emergency and routine dental treatment from Leeds Dental Hospital, some of which is provided by supervised dental students from the University of Leeds.

If you've moved away from home to come to Leeds Beckett, it’s really important that you register with your local GP practice at the earliest opportunity. Use Find a GP to find a doctor close to you. You can also download the free Choose well app for iPhone and Androids for information about the nearest NHS service wherever you are in West Yorkshire and the Humber.

If you become ill or are injured, please make sure you get the best possible treatment in the right place. For urgent advice and treatment anytime, call 111.

If you are concerned about your mental health it is important to speak to your GP. It can often feel quite difficult to begin to talk to someone about how you are feeling. The following information may help you first approach your GP to talk about your mental health.

It’s important that you also consider your sexual health whilst at university.

Leeds Sexual Health is your ‘go to’ place for all your sexual health needs and questions. You can find out where the nearest and most appropriate sexual health clinic is for you as well as information on STIs, contraception, pregnancy, abortion, sex and relationships and your body.

Download the Leeds Sexual Health clinics’ timetable.

The Students’ Union also provide free contraceptive packs, which contain Durex condoms as well as a limited supply of the following available on request:

• SKYN Latex free condoms
• Passante Female Condoms
• Passante Dams
• Pregnancy Testing kits

If you, or someone you know, have been raped or sexually assaulted you can find all the information you will need about your options for support and how to report it on our Zero Tolerance website.

If you are a student our and are pregnant you can find all the information you need regarding pregnancy and maternity in the Student pregnancy and maternity policy and procedure document.

Doing regular physical activity helps you feel good about yourself, improve your fitness and wellbeing, and meet new people and form lasting friendships

There are lots of things you can do to give your physical wellbeing a boost from sport or active recreational activities to simply everyday activities such as walking to university.

The Sport and Active Lifestyles website has more information about how to get involved from a weekly swim or fitness class, playing sport for fun or even representing our university in BUCS.

Please also see Leeds Beckett fitness Facebook group.

Strep A is a common type of bacteria. Most strep A infections are mild and easily treated, but some are more serious.

Common symptoms of strep A include:

Most strep A infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics.

But rarely, the infection can cause serious problems. This is called invasive group A strep (iGAS).

Strep A - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

COVID-19

Coronavirus can affect anyone. The risk is higher in older ages. For example, the risk of dying from COVID-19 in someone aged 40-to-49 is 3 times higher than someone in the 30-to-39-year age group and 12 times higher than someone in the 20-to-29-year age group, although there is still a risk. If you are an adult, you should have already been offered the vaccine. If not, you remain at risk, and you can still get the vaccine from the NHS. If you want to know more, please read: COVID-19 vaccination: guide for adults - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Whilst some people do still get COVID-19 infection after vaccination, their symptoms are usually much milder, and they are less likely to have complications. Vaccination appointments are available from the National Booking Service: Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Measles

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that is spread by coughs and sneezes. It can sometimes lead to serious complications and in rare cases can be fatal. Measles can be prevented by having two doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine.

The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is offered to all children as a two-dose course which should be completed before they start school.

It is estimated that over 25,000 students who never received the MMR jab as children, will start university each year. Are you one of them? 

Anyone who has not had two doses of the MMR vaccine can catch measles. Call your GP practice to check if you are up to date with your vaccination. If you are not the practice can arrange for you to have the vaccination free of charge from the NHS.

Mumps

Mumps is a viral illness best known for the puffy cheeks and tender swollen jaw that it causes. It is spread by coughs and sneezes and close contact with someone who already has the infection. We have recently seen an increase in mumps with most cases in young people who have not been immunised. Mumps outbreaks are common in university settings and the best way to protect yourself is to have two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. It is never too late to get the vaccine. If it’s not clear whether you’ve had both doses, there’s no harm in getting an extra dose.

Meningitis

Every university student should make sure they've had the MenACWY vaccine to prevent meningitis and septicaemia, which can both be deadly.

Meningococcal disease (meningitis and septicaemia) is a rare, but life-threatening disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. It requires urgent hospital treatment. It can lead to life-changing disabilities such as amputations, hearing loss, brain damage, and scars. It can affect anyone at any age.

New university students are at higher risk of the disease than other people of the same age because many of them mix closely with lots of new people – some of whom may unknowingly carry the meningococcal bacteria at the back of their noses and throats.

The MenACWY vaccine protects against 4 strains of the meningococcal bacteria – A, C, W and Y – which cause meningitis and blood poisoning (septicaemia). It has been routinely offered to teenagers in Years 9 or 10 in school, and to some older teenagers by their GP practice. Most students starting university will have been eligible for the vaccine as part of these vaccination programmes.

If you are unsure whether you have had your MenACWY vaccination, contact your health care professional before arriving in Leeds who will be able to check for you and arrange vaccination. If this is not possible it is important you register with a GP on arrival into Leeds to discuss having the vaccination at your earlies convenience. You are eligible to receive this vaccination free of charge until your 25^th birthday.

If you’re not sure, contact your GP practice, to check whether you have had the MenACWY vaccine, and to make an appointment.

Feeling ill – tell someone!

We want everyone to be well and enjoy their time at university but mixing with new people can increase the spread of infectious diseases. Make sure you are registered with a GP.

Many new students can catch ‘freshers’ flu’, they need to rest and can take over the counter pain medication such as Paracetamol to help them feel better. If you have symptoms of meningitis or sepsis, measles, or mumps you should seek medical advice quickly. You can visit the NHS.uk to check your symptoms or if in England, Scotland, and Wales you can call 111 for advice over the phone. In a medical emergency dial 999. If you are unwell, tell someone, preferably someone who can check that you are ok and call for help if you are not. Stay in touch with your neighbours and look out for each other. 

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection which usually causes no symptoms and goes away by itself, but some types can cause genital warts or cancer.

In the UK, the HPV vaccine has been offered to all 12 to 13-year-old girls in school year 8 for over ten years. Recently, the vaccine has also been offered to boys in year 8.

The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause most cases of genital warts and cervical cancer, as well as some cancers of the mouth and throat and some cancers of the anus and genital area. In time, it is expected that the vaccine will save hundreds of lives every year in the UK. Since the start of the vaccination programme in the UK, there has been a big decline in the number of young people with genital warts.

If you’re a female student and you missed your HPV vaccination when you were in school, you can still get the vaccine for free up to your 25th birthday. Male students who are MSM (Men who have sex with men) can have the HPV vaccine at sexual health clinics.

It's important to have the full course of the HPV vaccine to be fully protected. Speak to your GP surgery and make an appointment to get up to date as soon as possible. If you aren’t sure if you received it, check with your GP.

Further Information

Further general information about mumps and the MMR vaccine from Public Health England Guidance.

Other infectious diseases

Please don’t forget, as well as those listed above, there are other infectious diseases that are much more likely in the UK such as measles, and rubella. Make sure you are up-to-date with your vaccinations against all these diseases and see the government advice on signs and symptoms.