Posted: 13/02/15
Health matters for students
A two-day health event has been delivered to students at West Nottinghamshire College by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
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Drug and alcohol nurses Melanie Hall and Catherine Whetton were on hand to advise students about drug and alcohol misuse
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Painting and decorating student Lou Radford with drug and alcohol nurse Catherine Whetton, wearing the 'beer goggles'.
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Students Oliver Borg, Ben Fann and Joshua Tideswell sign up with governor Sue Holmes, to be members of the foundation trust
Students at the college’s construction and building campus and the Engineering Innovation Centre, both based in Ashfield, have been able to get advice from hospital professionals about a range of health matters while also signing up to be members of the Foundation Trust.
On Tuesday (10 February) students on construction-related programmes were able to speak to nurse advisors about issues such as sexual health, nutrition and the dangers of drug use.
Those who visited the information stands were able to get to grips with the ‘beer goggles’, which gives the wearer the sensation of being under the influence of alcohol. Students were challenged to walk through a series of obstacles to see how their judgement was impaired by drinking.
Staff from the college spoke to students about the range of sporting activities that they can get involved in to keep their fitness levels up, and there were a selection of health-related quizzes to complete.
Meanwhile, the Trust’s governors were available to give the students further information about the benefits of becoming a member of the Foundation Trust.
On Wednesday (11 February) it was the turn of students at the college’s Engineering Innovation Centre to learn from the specialists at the hospital as they delivered the same health programme to the new campus, which opened in September 2014.
Team leader for student health, welfare and safety, Andrew Wainman, said: “This week’s events were very successful and it was good to see so many students get involved and show an interest in their own health.
“I was especially pleased to see a number of students sign up to become members of the hospital trust. At some point in their lives, students will become users of their local hospital, so to become a member shows their loyalty and support. It will enable them to become more involved in the health service and be able to have a voice.”
