Ampleforth College

Medical Centre

Ampleforth College has an excellent Medical Centre on the Main School site which is staffed 24 hours every day during term time. It has historically been known as the “Infirmary”. All students are welcome to drop in to the centre at any time of the day for advice and management of illness or injury. We also offer Physiotherapy, Counselling and Vaccinations (routine and travel) with consent from parents. We have 20 beds available within the centre where we can monitor students closely and they can remain overnight if they are unwell. Health education and health promotion are ongoing.

New students have a medical check in the first few weeks of being at Ampleforth to establish any pre-existing medical problems, family history and current health issues. This gives us a baseline of what is normal for the student. This is also an opportunity to introduce the students to the medical centre staff and to highlight the location, accessibility and functions of the medical centre.

It is a strong recommendation of the Department of Health and the Medical Officers of Schools Association (MOSA) that students at boarding schools are registered with the School Medical Officer. Ampleforth boarders are therefore registered at the local practice at Ampleforth where the School Medical Officers are based.

Surgeries are held at the College Medical Centre on weekdays from 12pm to 2pm on an appointment basis. Appointments can be booked at the local practice too.

Referrals from the GP to other health professionals can be made on the NHS. Many parents choose to have private cover and the option of either route is offered when referrals to specialists are necessary. Referrals can be made to specialists locally or further afield, for example, nearer to the family home.

Students are usually accompanied to appointments outside the college by a House Matron, however parents are most welcome to attend any appointments with their child and to discuss issues of concern with the School Doctor.