A Health Assessment Form is required as part of the Stage 2 application and is only for students who have been provisionally offered an elective placement.
If an application is successful students will be asked to attend an Occupational Health Appointment on the first day of their placement for immunisation screening. This is in accordance with the Department of Health (DOH) guidance for standard communicable disease screening checks required for all new NHS healthcare workers. The screening checks are outlined below. This ensures that all students are adequately protected to undertake clinical activities, minimising infection risk to both patients and staff.
Information to students
Following the offer of a place for a medical elective placement at the University of Cambridge, we are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for students with impairments and health conditions.
As a potential future doctor you have a duty to provide all relevant and accurate information to the University Occupational Health Service where it will be held in confidence. The Clinical School will only be informed of the implications of an impairment or health condition with your consent, including the need for making reasonable adjustments or providing other support. This is to ensure that your placement will not place your health at risk.
If you declare an impairment or health condition which may require adjustments to assist you during your placement then an Occupational Health Adviser may contact you to assist you further.
The School will provide all reasonable support to enable students with impairments and health conditions to complete the placement.
You will be asked to provide information about your health and functional capabilities, and your immunisation records. Please complete the immunisation record form giving dates of immunisations and attach a printed list of your vaccinations from your doctor’s surgery/ Occupational Health (OH) dept. and/or photocopied vaccination records as proof. If possible, please ask your doctor or practice nurse to sign/confirm the information. The completed form and copies of relevant vaccinations/blood test results should be returned to OH with your completed health assessment form.
Please read the following information before completing the immunisation form.
Hepatitis B
Applicants must be able to demonstrate immunity to Hepatitis B, either because of vaccination or following natural infection. In line with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidelines a positive (immune) response is considered as surface antibody >100 mIU/ml or >10 mIU/ml + booster. Please provide dates of Hepatitis B primary vaccination course and any boosters given. Please enclose a copy of your Hepatitis B antibody level blood test results showing proof of immunity (i.e. a laboratory copy of your blood test result) with your health questionnaire. For applicants with an antibody of <10 mIU/ml and known to be a non-responder to the vaccine, please provide documentary evidence of Hepatitis B markers (i.e. HBsAg and Anti HBc).
Measles & Rubella
All applicants should have a documented history of two doses of MMR (combined measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, given from the age of one year old or provide serological evidence of measles and rubella immunity. Please attach a copy of the vaccine record or a copy of the laboratory blood test results. Please note that documentary evidence of two doses of MMR vaccination from the age of one and without serology is acceptable evidence of immunity. Your doctor/GP surgery should be able to check for a history of two MMR vaccines and provide a booster dose of vaccine if required.
Tuberculosis (TB)
Please note that in accordance with Cambridge University Hospital’s Immunisation and Infection screening policy, as part of the clearance process, all applicants new to the NHS will require a Quantiferon (QTB) blood test (also known as Interferon Gamma Release Assay or IGRA test) and/or chest x-ray. Please be aware that clearance for applicants from countries with a higher prevalence of TB (https://www.who.int/tb/country/data/profiles/en/index.html) cannot be given until UK QTB blood test or CXR results have been received and are satisfactory. Any QTB tests / CXRs carried out outside of the UK will need to be repeated. Screening required will be fully explained and with consent performed by occupational health. Where there is a past history of any TB Screening such as T-Spot, Mantoux or QTB, and/or BCG vaccination, please provide documentary evidence as this will assist the clearance process.
Varicella Zoster (VZV) – Chickenpox
A definite history of infection with chickenpox is adequate evidence of immunity if the applicant has lived in a temperate climate and at the time of their illness1. If living or raised in a tropical / sub-tropical climate2, despite a history of chickenpox, VZV serological evidence is required. VZV vaccination will be recommended / arranged for students on commencement of their placement at Cambridge if necessary.
Exposure Prone Procedure screening
Please note that in accordance with Department of Health (DOH, 2007) guidelines, blood borne virus screening (i.e. HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C) can only be accepted if it is from a UK ID validated blood sample analysed by an accredited laboratory source. Therefore, if the placement involves exposure prone procedure work (EPPs), applicants are advised that they must not undertake EPP work without written clearance from Occupational Health.
The DOH defines EPPs as “those invasive procedures where there is a risk that injury to the worker may result in the exposure of the patient’s open tissues to the blood of the worker. These include procedures where the worker’s gloved hands may be in contact with sharp instruments, needle tips or sharp tissues (e.g. spicules of bone or teeth) inside a patient’s open body cavity, wound or confined anatomical space where the hands may not be completely visible at all times”. Venepuncture, cannulation and suturing are not considered as EPPs.
Applicants are advised that they may be cleared for observation work while awaiting their results if all other immunisation / infection screening requirements have been met. Please see link for information and consent form for bloodborne virus screening for students whose placements will involve EPP work: https://www.oh.admin.cam.ac.uk/oh-forms/ohf18-medical-student-screening-bloodborne-viruses-consent-form
Covid-19 vaccine
The Covid-19 vaccine is an important protective measure for all frontline health care workers. It is recommended that all applicants complete the current COVID-19 vaccination programme (at least two primary vaccine doses, or a suitable equivalent) to protect their own health and the health of individuals when providing care.
Further current information regarding the vaccine and vaccination schedule can be found at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-programme-guidance-for-healthcare-practitioners
If you have any questions, please contact Occupational Health (OH) at: OccHealth@admin.cam.ac.uk
All students will receive an appointment to attend OH for screening. When attending, please bring the dates and documentation of any additional vaccinations or blood test results received.
1 Temperate regions are defined as United Kingdom, rest of Europe, North America, Antipodes, Middle East and Indian sub-continent
2 Tropical regions are defined as sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia, Caribbean and Central America
Further information on fitness to practise can be found on the General Medical Council (GMC) website
Data Protection Information
This questionnaire forms part of your Occupational Health (OH) record.
- Records are held securely, in confidence, by the University’s Occupational Health Service (OHS) in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998
- No identifiable medical or other information you provide in confidence and contained in your OH record will be released to anyone else without your consent being obtained but an opinion about your fitness for clinical study will be given to the Elective Co-ordinator.
