Download Policy on infectious and communicable diseases

Student Policy on infectious and communicable diseases
Purpose and scope of policy
The purpose of this policy is to provide information and advice to staff and
students on the process for dealing with infectious and notifiable diseases
under the Health Protection Regulations 2010. The policy covers all students
at Rose Bruford College.
Infectious diseases
Infectious diseases (also known as communicable diseases) are caused by
organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. These microorganisms can invade and reproduce in the human body and then cause
harmful effects. Infectious diseases such as meningitis, influenza and malaria
can spread directly or indirectly from one person to another and can be
transmitted by various routes.
The infectivity of certain infectious diseases determines how infection can be
controlled in order to prevent further infection. Many infectious diseases are
more common in children and therefore less prevalent in adults and
immunisation programmes have acted as a preventative measure. However,
there are some illnesses for which there are no vaccinations available or
where there have been gaps in immunisation programmes.
Exclusion
Most infectious diseases are contagious for some days before the symptoms
develop fully so it can be difficult to prevent the further spread of disease.
Appendix 1 provides a list of recommended exclusion times for infectious
diseases.
The normal process for students reporting absence from college for ill health
is to make contact with their Programme Administrator by telephone or Email.
For illnesses that are not ‘notifiable diseases’ (please see below), it is
suggested that Programme Administration staff make students aware of the
recommended exclusion times and advise students not to return to college
until after the recommended exclusion time.
Immunisations
Appendix 2 provides a list of the National Immunisation Schedule 2008.
Students should ensure that they are up to date with their vaccinations and if
necessary contact their GP for advice and information.
Notifiable Diseases.
Under the Health Protection Notification Regulations (2010) there are a list of
diseases, known as ‘notifiable diseases’ identified in Appendix 3, which
must be reported to the Health Protection Agency. Responsibility for
notifying the Health Protection Agency of a diagnosed or suspected diagnosis
of a notifiable disease rests exclusively with the medical practitioner who has
made the diagnosis. The Health Protection Agency will then decide what
action needs to be taken dependent on the type of disease and its infectivity.
The Health Protection Agency will make a decision on treatment once a
formal diagnosis has been made and will contact ‘at risk’ individuals which
would be people who have had close contact with the individual which could
be other members of staff, family members, partners and co-habitees.
Although the onus is on the medical practitioner to report such diseases and
they will contact at risk individuals, the college needs to be made aware as
soon as possible of the possible diagnosis or confirmed diagnosis of a
notifiable disease. This is to ensure that all students/ staff who may be
affected can be contacted and also so that contact can be made with local
Health Protection Agency to ensure that they have been made aware of this
occurrence.
Reporting of Notifiable Diseases at the College.
Any member of staff/ or student who has been told that a student may have or
has been diagnosed with a reportable disease (either by the student or a
friend or family member) should report it immediately to the Student Services
Manager or another member of the Student Services Team. The Student
Services Manager will report the illness to the Registrar, or in the absence of
the Registrar to another member of the Senior Management Team. The
Student Services Manager will also contact the local Health Protection
Agency which in the case of the College is the South East London Health
Protection Unit.
Contacts
Student Services:
Ian Mainwaring
Student Services Manager
Ext 2637
Tiffany Banks
Student Services Officer
Ext 2623
Ros Platton
Specialist Support and Equality Officer Ext 2610
South East London Health Protection Unit
1 Lower Marsh
London
SE1 7NT
Tel: 020 3049 4338