| Description | Minutes of a committee first established by the Senate to discuss with the University Health Officer the policy and administration of the University Health Service and to make recommendations to the Senate
Membership initially consisted of the Vice-Chancellor; the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; and members of academic staff from the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Commerce and Social Sciences, as well as A. D. Munrow, the Director of Physical Education
By 1970, membership consisted of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Principal (chair); two members appointed by Council; five members appointed by Senate; one member appointed by non-professorial staff; one member nominated by Research Staff Association; and two members nominated by the Guild of Students. The University Medical Officer and University Dental Officer were in attendance, and the Lodgings Warden and Student Welfare Adviser also attended from 1977
At the first meeting of the Committee, held on 26 July 1963 the committee discussed statistics, including the number of students and staff at the University, medical attendances, the number of students living at home, and the number of students who could register with the University Health Service. The minutes also record discussion about the appointment of an additional medical officer now that work had increased following the move of the Faculty of Arts from Edmund Street to Edgbaston, the possible move of the Health Service to Redmarley on Pritchatts Road, and accommodation for the denal practice then provided at 97 Oakfield Road.
Minutes contain information about staffing and salaries and give the names of those appointed. There are also details about increments and promotions. Minutes include financial statements for the University Health Service, giving income and expenditure, the running costs of the premises, costs to University funds, some of which were recoverable from the NHS, and the contribution to the financing of the Health Centre from student fees.
Copies of the annual reports of the University Medical Officer and University Dental Officer are included with the minutes, and there are regular references to the compulsory medical examination of undergraduates at the start of each academic session
Minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 1963 include a copy of a memorandum by John D. Cumming intended to get members of the University to think critically about the future of the University Health Service which then functioned as a unit designed to promote student health and wellbeing; a clinic dealing with emergent problems which faced industrial works surgery; and a general practice responsible for the care of an increasing number of people. The memorandum suggests expanding the service so that it could keep pace with growing needs associated with the expansion of the whole University community, enabling the building of a community by having a medical service that could treat everyone associated with the University
Minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 1964 include loose papers inserted in the volume which consist of records of the University Health Service Centre Working Party between January and April 1964. This Working Party was made up of the Vice-Chancellor, Bursar, Assistant Bursar, Architects, Medical Officer, and Dental Officer, and discussed schemes for the new Health Service Centre building.
Minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 1964 also discuss the report of the Medical Officer on routine medical examinations and refer to the possible use of first year students as a sample for research projects, with psychiatric screening tests to be left for the Educational Survey
Minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 1965 discuss a report from the Medical Officer on pregnancy in unmarried students, but the report itself is not included. The discussion summarises cases and states that 'a large proportion of the students concerned were emotionally unstable' but that there were also many engaged couples, and these usually got married. It states that the number of student pregnancies had not increased over the last three years, and that Birmingham students rarely asked for abortions
Loose papers are inserted with minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 1966, and these comprise records of University Health Centre progress meetings held in 1965 and early 1966 which give details about construction work on the new Health Centre building. Minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 1966 discuss delays to the building work and express concern that the building would not be complete by June 1966. The minutes also refer to the financing of the sanatorium and include discussion and report on the establishment of a Day Nursery, primarily to cater for students who had not finished their first degree, though it was considered that it might be possible to assist postgraduate students and staff. This report discusses the need for staffing and equipment, and includes estimated costs. Minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 1966 report on a pilot scheme for an experimental day nursery which had opened at the new Health Centre building. There is a further report on this scheme with minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 1967. After this date, minutes of the Committee include regular reports of the Day Nursery
Minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 1967 contain a reference to drug taking amongst students, and discussion followed assessment of the issue at a recent Conference of University Medical Officers. Minutes include the comment by the Birmingham Medical Officer that there was no evidence for drug taking, though there were prevalent rumours, but that constant vigilance was needed, and it was also necessary to counter the view that cannabis and amphetamine were relatively harmless drugs, and to co-operate with the Guild
Minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 1968 include a copy of a report by the Warden of the Sanatorium Health Centre which gives details about students with disabilities living in the residential flats there
Minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 1969 include a copy of the report of the Working Party to the University Health Service Committee to the Finance and General Purposes Committee on the present and future scope of the University Health Service, recommending that consideration be given to financing the University Health Service on the basis of a per capita grant relating to the total number of undergraduate and postgraduate students within the University in place of the present method of underwriting a deficit; that there should be no change in the terms and conditions of service of the Health Service professional staff, and no change in the scope of the activities of the Medical Division. This report summarises activities undertaken by the Health Service outside the NHS
By the time of the meeting 14 November 1969, there was a Working Party to examine present and future demand for Day Nursery facilities, how these should be provided, and by whom they should be provided, partly to see whether it would be possible to reduce the deficit. A copy of the report of this Working Party is included with minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 1970, and it recommends that allocation of places should be undertaken by the Lodgings Warden and Student Welfare Adviser, and University Health Service should be responsible for medical supervision, and the Secretary for administrative and financial matters.
Minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 1970 mention that the Guild Welfare Committee had set up a Student Health Committee with terms of reference to investigate health problems; to inform students about current health problems and the Health Service of the University; to liaise with the University Health Service, Medical School, and other appropriate bodies about student health problems; and to stimulate in general, interest in student health. The minutes refer to the appointment of a new University Medical Officer following the retirement of Dr Bolton, and include a policy statement by the new Medical Officer
Minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 1971 mention discussion of the provision of student counselling and the possible appointment of a psychiatric social worker or clinical psychologist. Minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 1971 mention the appointment of a clinical psychologist, and the annual reports of the Medical Officer from the 1970s onwards include more information about psychological problems assessed by the service, and a separate section is included in the report accompanying minutes of the meeting held on 25 October 1974 by the clinical psychologist. Minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 1978 include a copy of a report to the Committee on the Counselling Service within the Health Centre, noting the substantial increase in the number of students being seen, and making a recommendation to the Finance and General Purposes Committee for an additional member of staff. Additional financial help for the Clinical Psychology/Counselling Service is mentioned in minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 1985
Minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 1971 consist of reports of a Sub-Committee appointed to consider the future development of the University Health Centre and its expansion to deal with increased student numbers. A copy of the Report of Health Centre Working Party 18 January 1972 is included. This contains detailed proposals concerning the expansion of the building and its staffing. Minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 1972 include a copy of a report of the Bursar on proposals for the development of the Health Centre, and there is a copy of a report of the Working Party report on expansion with minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 1973
Revised terms of reference of the Committee were suggested and included with minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 1975. These were to oversee the operations of the Medical and Dental divisions of the University Health Centre as they affected the University's interests and to receive annual reports from the University Medical and Dental Officers; to oversee the Day Nursery; to receive the accounts and to consider draft estimates of expenditure; and to recommend to the Finance and General Purposes Committee and to Senate or the Academic Executive as appropriate
Minutes of the meeting held on 20 May 1977 contain a copy of the report of the Committee to the Finance and General Purposes Committee on the level of nursery fees and the extent of hardship caused by fees. There are references to a University subsidy offered to those taking up places.
Minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 1979 mention the replacement of the University Safety and Enviromental Health Committee with the Safety Executive Committee and the Joint Safety Advisory Committee (see UB/COM/49 for minutes), and that the University Health Centre was handling the detection of institutional hazards, personal hazards, monitoring and pre-employment screening, routine screening, health checks of persons returning to work after certain illnesses or lengthy absence; emergency treatment; and vaccination programmes. It appears that the Health Centre became more involved in Occupational Health functions from this point onwards.
Minutes of meetings held in the early 1980s contain discussion of the financial problems of the Day Nursery, as well as reference to the Sanatorium deficit and the introduction of a Sanatorium premium to be paid by all students. There is also discussion about legislation affecting Overseas students registering with the NHS, and charges for hospital treatment, as well as the introduction of exemptions by the government
Following the reorganisation of University committees in 1985, the University Health Service Committee was disbanded and replaced by a new Student Welfare Committee. The last meeting of the Committee was held on 31 May 1985 and the minutes summarise unresolved matters which it was hoped would be taken up by the successor committee. These included the future of Clinical Psychology services, Occupational Health, Physiotherapy, and the Sanatorium, and also mentioned the outcome of the Hunter/Trethowan Review on academic planning and implications for the policy of the University Health Service, recognising that economies needed to be made and there was a need to eliminate any overlap with the NHS in the provision of health services in order to satisfy the National Audit Office. Members agreed that a report would be submitted to Council before first meeting of the successor committee. See UB/COM/145 for records of the Student Welfare Committee |