Health and Wellbeing

The Health and Wellbeing Service is here to support students with any concerns affecting their wellbeing.

Whether you need help with mental or physical health, disability-related matters, or other challenges, our team will listen, discuss your needs, and connect you with the right support—either within the College or through the wider University.

Who we are

The Health and Wellbeing Service includes Catriona Keane, Head of Student Health and Wellbeing, who is a counsellor, and Taryn Rothwell, the College Nurse.

The team provides professional, compassionate, and confidential support in a welcoming and non-judgemental environment.

They work closely with the wider College Welfare Team, which includes the Senior Tutor, Tutors, Chaplain, and Head Porter. However, any information shared remains confidential and is not disclosed without consent.

Health and wellbeing appointments

We offer a range of appointments to support students' mental and physical wellbeing.

• Freshers Appointments – A brief check-in with the Nurse or Head of Student Health and Wellbeing to ensure you are settling in and to discuss any initial concerns.
• Initial Intake Assessments – A first appointment to assess individual needs, explore mental health and counselling options, and create a personalised support plan.
• Wellbeing Appointments – A space to talk about any emotional, personal, or mental health concerns, whether you need advice, support, or simply someone to listen.
• Advice and Support – A shorter session for general guidance on wellbeing matters (excluding physical health).
• Physical Health Appointments – Appointments for assessment, advice, and support with minor injuries, illnesses, or other physical health concerns.

Our team is here to support you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Making an appointment

The Health and Wellbeing service operates by appointment only. Please do not visit without a pre-booked appointment, as you will not be seen.

To schedule an appointment to see Catriona or Taryn, please fill in the Health and Wellbeing form, including your availability. We will arrange an appointment based on the times you provide.

Alternatively, you can email us directly at welfare@magd.cam.ac.uk.

You may also be referred by your GP, Tutor, or another healthcare professional, who can contact us via email at the same address. We aim to reply within 1–2 working days and offer an initial assessment within 5 working days.

Opening hours

General Service: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Nurse Availability

• Monday: 8.45 am – 2.45 pm
• Wednesday: 8.00 am – 2.00 pm
• Friday: 8.00am – 11.00am

Appointments can be held in person at Benson Court (F1 and F2) or online via Zoom.

Emergency Care and Out of Hours

In a life-threatening situation, call 999.

For urgent but non-life-threatening medical issues, call NHS 111.

A&E Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge. Phone 01223 245151.

What we do

When you reach out to us, we will first invite you for an initial assessment, which lasts between 30 minutes to 1 hour. This is a supportive conversation where we explore any factors affecting your wellbeing and determine the best course of action.

Depending on your needs, support may come from the Head of Student Health and Wellbeing or the College Nurse, or we may recommend a referral to another University service or an external agency. Our goal is to ensure you receive the most appropriate help in a way that works for you.

How we work

The Health and Wellbeing Service provides short-term, focused support to help students manage their physical and mental wellbeing. For those who need longer-term care, we will assist in finding the right support, whether through the University, the NHS, or other services.

The College Nurse is available to support students with a range of health and welfare needs, from minor illnesses and injuries to ongoing medical conditions. If specialist treatment is needed, she can guide you to the right service, whether that’s your GP, the University Counselling Service, or other local healthcare providers.

If you have an ongoing health condition, especially one that is serious or increases your vulnerability to infections, please contact the College Nurse as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

We have a range of wellbeing activities planned this term to support mental and physical health. These events provide opportunities to take a break from studies, focus on self-care, and manage stress in a supportive environment.

Visit the Wellbeing Activities page for details—we look forward to welcoming you!

As the service is often busy, please confirm your appointment within 24 hours of receiving the invitation. If we do not hear from you within this time, your session may be reallocated, and a new appointment will be scheduled for a later date. If you need to cancel, please provide at least 48 hours' notice whenever possible.

We encourage you to reach out to us if you are struggling, but we also understand the value of having access to helpful information that allows you to support yourself. To assist with this, we have compiled some useful self-help resources:

• University Counselling Service - Self-help Resources
• University of Cambridge - Student Support

As an accredited counsellor, the Head of Wellbeing is professionally accountable to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and work to their robust Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions, and as a Registered Nurse, the College Nurse is professionally accountable to the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Record keeping

All information held by the service is stored securely under GDPR in line with College requirements. Session notes are kept brief, providing a factual record of discussions, and are stored electronically. Confidentiality is strictly maintained within the service unless:

• you request to see them
• you wish them to be shared for a specific reason, in which case we would request your written consent
• we are legally obliged to do so

Your records will be securely destroyed after seven years.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is between the student and the Health and Wellbeing Service, and all appointments and sessions are confidential. This means that under normal circumstances nothing will leave our service without your express permission, even if a Tutor, member of staff, family or friend contacts us.

Very occasionally and in very rare circumstances, we reserve the right to breach confidentiality in line with our statutory and ethical obligations, these are:

1. If you have explicitly consented; or
2. There is a clear risk of imminent and serious harm to you or to others in which a duty of care outweighs the duty of confidentiality; or
3. There is a legal obligation to do so. However, in such circumstances, we would always seek to speak with you first.

We also hold as confidential that you have chosen to use the service, with the following exceptions:

• If a Tutor has referred you to the service, we will write to the referrer to let them know that we have received the referral and an appointment to meet has been offered.
• If we are contacted by a Tutor or member of staff who has direct concerns regarding your welfare but has been unable to make contact with you, we may confirm whether you are or are not using our service.

Sometimes, we may decide together that it may be in your best interest for the service to make contact with a third party, e.g. if your personal difficulties or psychological problems are affecting your academic work, it could be helpful to write to your Tutor. This would only be done with your explicit consent.