Gordon's Medical Centre
The School Medical Centre is run by a team of four Registered General Nurses, a physiotherapist and an administrator.
Its aim is to support the health needs of every student, allowing them to achieve their full potential in all aspects of school life.
Julie Unsworth RGN - Lead Nurse
Julie trained at Southampton University Hospitals Trust in 1990. Her first post was as a Staff Nurse in Respiratory Medicine at Southampton General Hospital. After a gap year travelling Julie returned to London and worked in St Thomas’s Hospital as a Staff Nurse in one of the busiest A&Es in the country. Next came a relocation to Australia, working in A&E and Cardio-Thoracic ITU in Sydney for some years. In between having three children Julie has worked part-time at Frimley Park A&E, finally joining the Nursing team at Gordon’s in September 2012.
Jenni Beresford RGN MCFHP MAFHP - Nurse
Jenni completed her training at Ashford Hospital qualifying in 1982. Jenni then worked in a variety of areas including general surgery, orthopaedics and ophthalmology. She became Deputy Sister on an orthopaedic ward in 1985 obtaining a Ward Sister post in 1986 on a general surgical unit. She joined Gordon's in 1996 and completed her training as a Foot Health Practitioner in 2009, which enables her to offer foot care at school.
Emma Light RGN - nurse
Emma completed a degree in Health Studies and Social Policy at Roehampton University and after travelling, completed nursing training at Southampton University, qualifying in 2003. Emma has worked at Frimley Park Hospital for 16 years on the general surgical wards and also at Parkside, a busy private unit looking after adults and children. She has a keen interest in wound care and works as a Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist alongside her role as School Nurse at Gordon’s School.
Tracey Burman RGN - nurse
Tracey completed her training at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge in 1992. She has worked in oncology/haematology, intensive care and as a Nurse Practitioner in A&E for 12 years. She also spent many years working with the Surrey School Immunisation Team before joining the Medical Centre at Gordon’s School.
The Medical Centre
The Medical Centre is manned between 8.00am and 6.00pm on weekdays, 9.00am and 4.00pm on Saturdays and 9.30 and 11.00am on Parade Sundays. The Medical Centre staff run regular open surgeries throughout the day and are on hand to treat emergencies at all times during the school day. Full and Weekly Boarders have access to a trained nurse outside these hours via the on-call system, should the need arise.
The Medical Centre houses ten beds in three separate rooms (boys, girls and isolation) that allow sick students to be accommodated in comfortable surroundings by professional staff, away from their Boarding Houses for short periods of time.
First Aid and immediate Nursing Care is available to Day Boarders taken ill or injured during the school day. However, parents will be contacted and should be available to collect their child if they are considered unfit to return to class.
All students have access to fully qualified counsellors if appropriate. On occasion, the Medical Centre can also provide sanctuary during the school day if students feel overwhelmed by personal problems such as emotional stress or homesickness.
Over the counter medicines are dispensed by the Nurses and other trained members of staff to all students who have returned a completed medical questionnaire and consent form. Care plans are in place for those students who suffer with short and long-term medical conditions to allow each child to reach their potential regardless of illness or disability.
The Medical Centre staff aim to promote good health and sensible lifestyle choices, help to deliver the PSHE programme and co-ordinate preventative health programmes such as immunisations.
To enable us to provide the best care possible, including the administration of certain ‘over the counter’ medicines, we require a completed medical questionnaire and consent form for every student starting at Gordon’s. Parental consent is then valid throughout your child's time at Gordon's. The Medical Centre should be notified of any updates or changes regarding the students' health.
Seeing a Doctor at Gordon's - residential boarders only
The School Doctor, Dr Hassan, is a local GP who holds a weekly clinic in school for Full and Weekly Boarders.
Dr Hassan graduated from Punjab University in 2001. She started training in General Medicine, obtaining her MRCP whilst working at Hillingdon Hospital in 2010. She completed her GP training at Ashford and St Peter's Hospital in 2014. Dr Hassan enjoys working in General Practice and has a keen interest in paediatrics and women's health.
The usual range of general medical services are also provided by the West End and Chobham Medical Practice. It is therefore imperative that Full and Weekly Boarders are registered with Dr Hassan. This means that Residential Boarders who need to see a doctor outside term time must register with a local GP as a temporary resident. The contact details for the West End Surgery are:
West End Surgery
Lucas Green Road
West End
Surrey
GU24 9LU
01483 481323
Male students may see a male doctor upon request. Residential Boarders also have access to a dentist, an orthodontist, foot clinic, asthma clinic, travel clinic and other services deemed appropriate to support their good health.
School policy is for all new Residential Boarding students to have a medical with the school nurse in their first term in order to check and monitor their physical health and well-being whilst at school.
Although the Medical Centre staff will always provide emergency treatment during school hours to Day Boarders, it is expected that for routine medical matters their family GP will be consulted.
seeing a physiotherapist at gordon's - residential boarders, sports scholars and high performance athletes only
- There will be short assessment sessions, also known as triage, held in the Medical Centre or Sports Hub medical room. Students need to be referred to triage as follows;
- Residential boarders in Year 7-11 will need to be referred by a nurse in the Medical Centre; therefore, if you are concerned that your child (as a residential boarder) may need to see the school physiotherapist please send them to the Medical Centre first. If necessary, the nurse will give your child a triage time.
- Residential boarders, sport scholars, and students on elite performance programmes that are in the Sixth Form can self-refer using a QR code; the QR code will be on a poster displayed around the school, including the Medical Centre, Sports Hub, Fitness Suite and Houses. The school physiotherapist will respond to these requests and provide a time for triage.
- After the triage service, students will be given advice on the next steps that they need to take.
- High performance athletes include Rugby (HPP, ACE and ACE Development), Netball (EPP), Hockey (1st Team), and Football (1st Team).
Mac Daniel - Chartered Physiotherapist
Mac graduated as a Chartered Physiotherapist from the University of Birmingham in 2023, where she worked with their rugby club. Given her particular interest in musculoskeletal and sports rehabilitation, after graduating, Mac joined the physiotherapy team at Millfield School and worked closely with their high-performance athletes across various sports. Mac started at Gordon’s during the 2024 Summer Term and provides physiotherapy for Windsor RFC alongside this. Additionally, Mac has RFU’s PHICIS Level 2 qualification, a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports Massage, and is competent to provide sports taping.
Return2Play
Concussion management
Gordon’s School places great importance on the management of head injuries and possible concussions. To help this we use Return2Play to manage these injuries. Their specialist Head Injury & Concussion Care Service provides seven-day-a-week, unlimited access to their team of clinicians. The doctor-led medical team are on hand to ensure that every student receives prompt attention and guidance throughout their recovery journey. All appointments are accessed via a webcam clinic system for maximum convenience. Parental consent is sought to access this service. Students can be referred for concussion assessment via the Medical Centre, Sports Coach or their Parent/Guardian through the Return2Play website.