Additional Information for Courses with Required Placements: PVG; Health Clearance; Uniforms; Insurance

All students undertaking practical placement activities as an intrinsic part of their course are required to join the PVG Scheme, or have their PVG membership linked to QMU.  Information on applying can be found on the Disclosure Scotland website.  Please note that only matriculated students with a current UK address are able to apply.

There are three types of PVG Scheme application available and it is essential that the university submits the correct application for you.  The three types are:

You must provide three forms of ID* to Queen Margaret University, via the Student Portal, for the purposes of identity checking, as required by Disclosure Scotland.  At least one of the ID's should be photographic and, across the three, they should confirm your name, date of birth and your current UK address.

*Acceptable forms of ID include (but are not limited to):

• Birth Certificate
• Passport
• National ID card
• BRP
• Driving License (Provisional License is also acceptable)
• Bank Statement or similar (dated within last three calendar months)
• Utility Bill (dated within last three calendar months)
• Lease Agreement

Scanned copies / good quality photographs of original documents will need to be submitted to Queen Margaret University as soon as possible after matriculating via the student portal.

Countersignatories, acting on behalf of QMU, will create your PVG application form using the supplied ID. An email containing a link to your application form will be sent from Disclosure Scotland to your QMU student email address, and you will have seven days in which to complete the application. After this time, the link will no longer be valid and a new application will need to be generated by us. In order to help with this, a virtual session will be timetabled within that 7 day period to provide allocated time, should you require it, and for staff to be available for any questions you may have about your application.

Documents submitted for PVG ID purposes will only be retained by QMU for use by authorised countersignatories in the event of any queries with your application. Once the PVG Scheme Membership certificate is issued by Disclosure Scotland all documents submitted for this purpose will be deleted in line with Data Protection requirements. For further information, please see our web page.

ASSaM students/applicants require to pay the PVG application fee of £18 or £59 (depending on the level of clearance required).

Due to professional requirements, students on Nursing, Allied Health Profession and Healthcare Science qualifying programmes are required to hold Professional Indemnity Insurance as a pre-condition of progressing to placement. This is most easily gained through the joining of the appropriate professional body, and information on this will be provided during the induction process into your programme.  Details on anticipated costs can also be found on the specific fees page of our website here.

Health Clearance is a process you must complete. 

In preparation for clinical placements we are required, by the Government, to ensure that all students who will have direct clinical contact with patients meet the health clearance requirements as set out in their guidance.

There is a short video made by NHS Lothian’s Occupational Health team that explains what you need to do.

What Happens Next?

• In July, after you firmly accept an Unconditional Offer from the university, you will get an email from NHS Lothian’s Occupational Health team.
• This email will include a link, a username, and a password to access a secure online form.
• Please note: This email is sent manually, not automatically. So, it may take a few months to arrive. Don’t forget to check your junk or spam folder.

What You Need to Do

• You must complete and submit the online form before you can get an appointment. This appointment usually happens during Induction Week at the university.
• The form will ask you to upload your vaccination history. You can usually get this from your doctor or child health records.
• You must show proof that you had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella).
• If you cannot provide this proof, that’s okay. Just write a short explanation. At your appointment, the health team will offer blood tests to check your immunity.

Important Notes

• You do not need to get any vaccines before starting your course.
• You will not be forced to get any vaccines you do not want.
• However, if you are not vaccinated, it might affect where you can go for your placement.

Additional Information

Please know that some doctors (GPs) or medical centres may charge you to give you your vaccination records. It might also take a few weeks to get this information.

✅ Make sure you have your vaccination records before you fill in and send the online health form.

🔒 The university does not need to see your vaccination records. This information is private and should only be sent to Occupational Health.

You must make sure that you complete the questionnaire and upload your vaccination records before Induction Week begins.

Costs for Vaccinations and Blood Tests

If you are not:

• funded by SAAS (Student Awards Agency Scotland),
• living in Scotland, and
• studying an undergraduate course,

then you will need to pay for your vaccinations and/or blood tests.

The cost is decided by Occupational Health. You can ask them for the price list. We cannot tell you exactly what you will need before your first appointment.

💷 As a general guide, most students pay about £250 during their course for Occupational Health checks.

If this cost is difficult for you, we can help you set up a payment plan so you can pay in smaller amounts.

Appointments

All students must go to at least one in-person appointment on campus. This will be about 30 minutes long and usually happens during Induction Week (the first week of the semester).

• Occupational Health will book this appointment for you.
• You will get an email from Occupational Health with the date and time.
• If you need more appointments, they will be arranged for you by Occupational Health.

Missed Appointments

If you do not attend your appointment and do not tell Occupational Health at least 48 hours before, you will be charged a £36.75 fee. This fee will be added to your university account.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact the Health Clearance team.

Badges

All Nursing, Paramedic Science, Audiology and AHP students will be issued with a name badge.  We will take your 'Known as' name from the Student Portal and you can be edit this at any time.  Replacement badges are charged at £7.50 and take around three weeks to be delivered.

Uniform for Nursing and AHP programmes

Information on the NHS guidelines regarding uniforms can be found here. Please note the requirements regarding sleeve length. A video showing how the uniform should look, fit and feel is also available. 

Students will be emailed, during September, with instructions on how to place your order via the supplier's website. Measuring guides have been made available to us from the uniform suppliers. Please note that the uniforms are unisex so the guides are to help you get the best fit for your body type.

Measuring guide for men

Measuring guide for women

Those who require a uniform for placement will be issued with four tunics and four pairs of trousers around 2 weeks before their first placement; details will be emailed to you. All trousers will need to be hemmed as they are made with a long leg!  If you are required to pay for these, or you require an alternate size or want an extra set, tunics are charged at £5.99 each and trousers are £7.74 a pair. 

Registry will invoice students directly for these items at the point of matriculation.  Prices as at August 2024.

PLS Medical, who are not affiliated with QMU, offer a variety of footwear, all suitable for placement.  You are under no obligation to purchase from them, but it may be of interest to see what types of footwear are acceptable.

Badges

All Nursing, Paramedic Science, Audiology and AHP students will be issued with a name badge.  We will take your 'Known as' name from the Student Portal and you can be edit this at any time.  Replacement badges are charged at £7.50 and take around three weeks to be delivered.

Uniform

Students will be emailed during September with instructions on how to place your order via the supplier's web portal. 

Paramedic Science students will be issued with the following items at a core class in mid-October: