EF Academy and Language Schools Oxford

 

We provide healthcare services for students who attend the EF academy and language schools in Oxford. 

What can I expect from the NHS and how does the NHS work?

The NHS is a complex system, which can sometimes be difficult to understand, especially when determining responsibilities. It comprises various organisations with distinct roles, responsibilities, and specialties.

Healthcare in the UK is generally free, whether one consults a GP or requires hospital care.

Healthcare in the UK may differ significantly from that in a student's home country, as it is provided through the NHS (National Health Service). A GP (general practitioner) oversees primary care, which encompasses care outside of hospitals. If a student requires specialist care, EF healthcare will assist in arranging referrals to appropriate services.

View more information about NHS services for overseas visitors

Non-urgent care is managed through the GP practice. If the practice is closed, students should use the Out of Hours Service. For emergencies such as severe chest pains or difficulty breathing, students should go to Accident and Emergency (A&E) at the hospital. They can make their own way to the hospital or call 999 for an ambulance, which is also free.

If students are unsure about the type of service they require, they can discuss this with EF healthcare or the EF pastoral support team.

To access free NHS healthcare, students need to be registered with a GP. For EF students, the local GP practice is Hedena Health. To register please speak to your EF pastoral lead or complete our online application

Hedena Health comprises GPs, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Paramedics, Clinical Pharmacists, and Practice Nurses, all of whom students may encounter during their stay in the country.

If students are prescribed medication, they may need to pay for the prescription at the pharmacy. Prescriptions are now sent electronically to a nominated pharmacy of their choice.

Eye tests are available from Opticians; students can check local listings for addresses and telephone numbers or explore the city centre, where many opticians offer special deals.

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How to book an appointment

If you require an appointment, please speak with your EF pastoral team and they will arrange this for you. Hedena Health run regular clinics every week where one of our clinicians will see you face to face.

What can I expect at my appointment?

The clinician will ask you a series of questions about your problem, be prepared to answer them truthfully and thoroughly to enable our clinicians to make a correct diagnosis. The clinician may prescribe you a medicine or they may advise you on how best to manage your problem yourself. Please be sure to ask any questions and say if you do not understand anything. They will also arrange any follow up you may need.

Useful resources

Viral Illnesses

It is very common to get viral illness, especially in the school environment. Many of these conditions can be easily managed with self-care and you will not need to see a health care professional.

You can minimise spread by following good hand hygiene procedures.

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Low mood/anxiety/depression

Moving to a new country can be frightening time, and you may feel anxious or upset about this.

If you are concerned about your mood please speak with your EF pastoral lead who will arrange an appointment with one of our clinicians. Alternatively you can request an appointment with a GP. 

You can also make an appointment with one of the EF health care team to have a chat about it.

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Smoking

Smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK and has many harmful effects. 

Learn more about the risks of smoking

If you smoke and want help with quitting, you can ask your EF health care provider for more information and who will put you in touch with local smoking cessation services.

Get support quitting

Alcohol

Regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week risks damaging your health

New evidence around the health harms from regular drinking has emerged in recent years.

There's now a better understanding of the link between drinking and some illnesses, including a range of cancers.

To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks:

  • men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
  • spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
  • if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week

Fourteen units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of low-strength wine. How Alcohol Units are calculated

Calculate your units

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Vaccinations

NHS vaccinations and when to have them