The clinics are not able to provide diagnosis or treatment for conditions that require special equipment. If special equipment is needed, students will be referred to other health services. For example, students would need to be referred to an optometrist for glasses or to a physiotherapist for treatment of a sport injury.

Young people are very protective of their health information being kept private and there are some important laws that govern the sharing of information a school GP or nurse gathers from a student.

If a student wishes to keep their clinic visit confidential then the school GP or nurse must respect their wishes. GPs and nurses have a wider health responsibility to their patients which may involve giving advice to students where the GP believes they are sexually active.

Best of all our school community and parents, they are free to all students enrolled in Putaruru College

Who funds the service?

Waikato District Health Board, through Pinnacle Midlands Health Network, have provided funding for GP led health clinics to be opened in high schools across Waikato. The clinics are set up to remove barriers for youth in accessing primary health care services.

·        Improve the health of our students so they come to school well and able to learn

·        Encourage students to take responsibility for their own health

·        Encourage students to discuss their health concerns with their family or whanau

·        Free health care for students enrolled at college/high school

·        Improve sexual health of students and reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies

·        Appropriate referral to mental health, social service and other services as required.

·        Overtime, young people have shared with us some of the barriers that stop them going to the doctor or nurse when they need to.

·        For many young people the whole system of making an appointment, finding transport to their family general practice, and talking about changes in their lives and bodies is unfamiliar and daunting. We want to see young people grow in skill and take charge of their health early in their life journey.

·        We have placed a nurse into your local high school to make it easier for young people to access primary health services at no cost to the family budget.

Where will the clinic be held?

In the Student Services block. A consulting room has been established in one of our sick bays

School Nurse, Sue Caldwell will work Mondays & Thursdays and Frances Robbins will run a GP-led clinic every Tuesday during school term.

The GP will be paid for by Pinnacle Midlands Health Network with the support of Putaruru College Principal Mike Ronke and the school Board of Trustees.

The School Clinic GPs and nurse have an interest in youth health. The service is not intended to replace the family GP, but to provide an accessible service to students in need free of charge within their school setting.  Where appropriate, the health service can also link with the school guidance and support services.

Students will also be encouraged to discuss their health concerns with family/whanau and will be able to bring them to the clinic for support if they choose to. Family/Whanau members will not be able to use the clinics for their own health needs.

Students will be encouraged to make an appointment to see the doctor or nurse.

Appointment can be made by

·        speaking with the nurse in person

·        through the guidance counsellor

·        leaving a request in the letter box located at student services

Sometimes it may be possible to "drop in” and see a doctor or nurse without an appointment, especially at interval or lunchtime.

What services will be provided?

The clinics will provide a lot of the services that you would expect to receive from a general practice. There will be a strong focus on preventative services to keep young people healthy. These will include screening for vision and hearing, advice on nutrition or injury prevention, and treatment services. These may include treatment for stress, acne, headaches, earache or sexually transmitted infections, tiredness and or general feelings of un-wellness.

Year 9 students are offered a routine health assessment.