The University
Influenza advice
Information for students
Influenza pandemic information and advice
Information for students
This information is reviewed daily.
What do I need to do now?
What do I do if I think I may have swine flu?
Reporting absence
What if someone I know has swine flu?
What if someone on my course has swine flu?
What if I am ill and can not hand in or complete my work on time?
What if I cannot attend University because I have to stay home to care for a family member who has swine flu?
What about enrolment and induction?
How do I protect myself from catching swine flu?
For more information about swine flu
What do I need to do now ?
It is a good idea to establish now a network of friends or family who will be able to help you should you become ill. These 'flu friends' or 'flu buddies' will collect medicines and other supplies for you, making it easier for you to stay at home if you are unwell. This is important in helping to control the spread of swine flu in the community. More information on ‘flu friends’ is available by clicking on the link to the right of this page.
If you have not already done so then it is important to register with a GP now. You should register with the local GP surgery where you live.
Please make sure that the contact details we have for you are correct. This is important, as we may need to get in touch with you if arrangements for your study are affected by the flu pandemic. You can check the information we hold for you and update your personal details here: http://onlineregistry.uwl.ac.uk/website/onlineservices/mytvu/default.aspx
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What do I do if I think I may have swine flu?
In most cases, swine flu is a relatively mild illness, similar to seasonal flu.
If you develop flu-like symptoms, stay at home and minimise contact with other people. Seek medical advice by contacting the National Pandemic Flu Service:
www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu
Telephone: 0800 1 513 100
Minicom: 0800 1 513 200
If you experience difficulty in contacting the National Pandemic Flu Service, contact your GP by phone or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
Do not attend the health centre, hospital or your GP surgery in person (unless instructed to do so by your GP). Do not attend lectures or use University facilities on site until your symptoms have cleared. If you live alone, ask a 'flu friend' to collect medicines and other supplies for you so that you do not need to leave home. More information on ‘flu friends’ is available by clicking on the link to the right of this page.
If you are in halls of residence, you should stay in your room until your symptoms have subsided. Ask a friend to collect medicines and other supplies for you. If you are ill, you should notify:
Paragon Halls
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Reporting absence
If you will be absent due to swine flu, you will need to notify your tutor or programme leader by telephone or e-mail. In addition to contacting your tutor or programme leader, you must also e-mail swine.flu@uwl.ac.uk and provide:
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What if someone I know has swine flu?
You should continue with your normal activities and attend University, unless you have flu-like symptoms yourself. The advice of the Health Protection Agency is that even if you live with or have been in close contact with somebody who has swine flu, but you do not have flu-like symptoms yourself, you should continue your studies as usual.
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What if someone on my course has swine flu?
Provided you feel well, you should still attend University as normal, unless you are told otherwise by your course leader or tutor.
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What if I am ill and cannot hand in or complete my work on time?
It is important that you make contact with your tutor by telephone or e-mail to discuss this. Please make sure both you and your tutor are clear on what arrangements are agreed.
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What if I cannot attend University because I have to stay home to care for a family member who has swine flu?
As explained above, you will need to notify your tutor and also e-mail swine.flu@uwl.ac.uk (or call the University's notification telephone number 0208 231 2662 if you don't have internet access). Provide the following information:
What about enrolment and induction?
If you are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, you must not visit the University until you have fully recovered from your symptoms and are well again. If you are unwell at the time of enrolment or induction, then please contact the University so that alternative arrangements can be made for your enrolment and induction.
e-mail: enrolhelp@uwl.ac.uk
Telephone: 020 8231 2310
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How do I protect myself from catching swine flu?
General hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the swine flu virus. This includes:
Visit the HPA's website www.hpa.org
back to top
Information for students
This information is reviewed daily.
What do I need to do now?
What do I do if I think I may have swine flu?
Reporting absence
What if someone I know has swine flu?
What if someone on my course has swine flu?
What if I am ill and can not hand in or complete my work on time?
What if I cannot attend University because I have to stay home to care for a family member who has swine flu?
What about enrolment and induction?
How do I protect myself from catching swine flu?
For more information about swine flu
What do I need to do now ?
It is a good idea to establish now a network of friends or family who will be able to help you should you become ill. These 'flu friends' or 'flu buddies' will collect medicines and other supplies for you, making it easier for you to stay at home if you are unwell. This is important in helping to control the spread of swine flu in the community. More information on ‘flu friends’ is available by clicking on the link to the right of this page.
If you have not already done so then it is important to register with a GP now. You should register with the local GP surgery where you live.
- If you live in rented accommodation, you can find the nearest GP to you using the NHSchoices website www.nhs.uk
- If you are in the Paragon Halls of Residence then you should be able to register with the Florence Rd Surgery in Ealing, on 020 8567 2111 or visit:
www.florenceroadsurgery.nhs.uk - If you are living in the Reading Halls of Residence at King's Road then your nearest surgery is Eldon Rd Surgery. Telephone: 0118 939 1919 or or visit:
www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/
Please make sure that the contact details we have for you are correct. This is important, as we may need to get in touch with you if arrangements for your study are affected by the flu pandemic. You can check the information we hold for you and update your personal details here: http://onlineregistry.uwl.ac.uk/website/onlineservices/mytvu/default.aspx
back to top
What do I do if I think I may have swine flu?
In most cases, swine flu is a relatively mild illness, similar to seasonal flu.
If you develop flu-like symptoms, stay at home and minimise contact with other people. Seek medical advice by contacting the National Pandemic Flu Service:
www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu
Telephone: 0800 1 513 100
Minicom: 0800 1 513 200
If you experience difficulty in contacting the National Pandemic Flu Service, contact your GP by phone or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
Do not attend the health centre, hospital or your GP surgery in person (unless instructed to do so by your GP). Do not attend lectures or use University facilities on site until your symptoms have cleared. If you live alone, ask a 'flu friend' to collect medicines and other supplies for you so that you do not need to leave home. More information on ‘flu friends’ is available by clicking on the link to the right of this page.
If you are in halls of residence, you should stay in your room until your symptoms have subsided. Ask a friend to collect medicines and other supplies for you. If you are ill, you should notify:
Paragon Halls
- Touareg Reception
- on 020 8560 1561
- e-mail info@touareg.org.uk
- Accommodation Service
- on 0118 967 5052
- e-mail reading.homes@uwl.ac.uk
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Reporting absence
If you will be absent due to swine flu, you will need to notify your tutor or programme leader by telephone or e-mail. In addition to contacting your tutor or programme leader, you must also e-mail swine.flu@uwl.ac.uk and provide:
- your name
- your student number
- a contact number
- the programme you are studying and the Faculty.
back to top
What if someone I know has swine flu?
You should continue with your normal activities and attend University, unless you have flu-like symptoms yourself. The advice of the Health Protection Agency is that even if you live with or have been in close contact with somebody who has swine flu, but you do not have flu-like symptoms yourself, you should continue your studies as usual.
back to top
What if someone on my course has swine flu?
Provided you feel well, you should still attend University as normal, unless you are told otherwise by your course leader or tutor.
back to top
What if I am ill and cannot hand in or complete my work on time?
It is important that you make contact with your tutor by telephone or e-mail to discuss this. Please make sure both you and your tutor are clear on what arrangements are agreed.
back to top
What if I cannot attend University because I have to stay home to care for a family member who has swine flu?
As explained above, you will need to notify your tutor and also e-mail swine.flu@uwl.ac.uk (or call the University's notification telephone number 0208 231 2662 if you don't have internet access). Provide the following information:
- your name
- your student number
- a contact number
- the person you are caring for (child, parent, etc)
- the course you are studying and the Faculty
- make it clear that you are not ill yourself, but that your absence is because you are caring for a dependant
What about enrolment and induction?
If you are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, you must not visit the University until you have fully recovered from your symptoms and are well again. If you are unwell at the time of enrolment or induction, then please contact the University so that alternative arrangements can be made for your enrolment and induction.
e-mail: enrolhelp@uwl.ac.uk
Telephone: 020 8231 2310
back to top
How do I protect myself from catching swine flu?
General hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the swine flu virus. This includes:
- Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
- disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
- maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face or to other people
- cleaning hard surfaces (such as door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
Visit the HPA's website www.hpa.org
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