A YUSU survey of student satisfaction with the University Health Centre has received very mixed results.
According to the survey, nearly one in three students rated their experience at the clinic as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. A similar amount said the service offered was ‘satisfactory’, with the rest giving more positive responses.
The survey, conducted by YUSU, comes in the wake of a Vision investigation revealing the neglectful and patronising treatment some students have received at the hands of Health Centre staff. Incidents of misdiagnosis have driven several students to seek consultations from off-campus clinics, while others have complained of having their lifestyle choices demeaned.
“Clearly in some areas the Health Centre is doing well and some people are very satisfied,” states YUSU Welfare Officer Ben Humphrys, “but we’ll be drilling down into the data over the coming weeks and months to identify where the problems are and how they can be addressed.”
One third year History student Vision spoke to is sceptical about the practical usefulness of the survey. “It’s fantastic that something is finally being done about the situation, but it’ll all just be a lot of hot air unless the lacklustre results of the survey spur the university on to take some tangible action,” he explains. “Student lives are and have always been in the hands of the Health Centre staff, and they can’t afford to be put at risk any longer.”