Helping you to stay healthy and secure at university

Your health and safety

Helping you to stay healthy and secure at university.

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We offer a safe, secure and comfortable base for our students. Our security team are on campus 24/7 to provide advice and support, and our accommodation is protected by security and CCTV.

There are a few extra steps you can take to keep yourself healthy and safe at university. These practical tips will help you and the people around you to get the most out of your time at Manchester Met.

Register with a doctor

It is important to register with a doctor when you arrive at university, so that you can receive medical help free of charge while you are away from home. GP surgeries provide a range of services by appointment, including medical advice, examinations, sexual health screenings, vaccinations and prescriptions.

You can choose which surgery to register with, but we recommend choosing a doctor close to your accommodation in case you are ill and need to go for an appointment.

The nearest GP to Birley fields is Arch medical practise. Please click here to read how to register with this practise. 

If you are ill in the evening or on a weekend, you can still contact your GP surgery, who will have a process for out of hours support. If a doctor or ambulance needs to make an emergency visit to your accommodation, reception must be informed immediately.

For immediate medical advice you can ring the NHS non-emergency advice line on 111, or alternatively you can visit the NHS Choices website. In a medical emergency you should always dial 999.

Register with a dentist

You should register with a local dentist on arriving. There are a variety of NHS dentists close to Manchester Met’s student accommodation, and you can choose which you would like to register with. You can search for a nearby dentist by entering your postcode on the NHS Services Search website.

Looking after your health

Alongside the support which Manchester Met offers, there are steps you can take to look after your own health while living at university. There are also certain risks to be aware of.

Some illnesses are more common in young people and those living in close proximity to one another, such as mumps and meningitis.

If you are a UK student aged between 18 and 25 there’s a good chance that you’ve had only one dose of the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine. Please check with your GP and get another vaccination if you require it. Mumps is an acute viral illness that causes fever, headaches and painful swollen glands. It can also lead to more serious conditions. Visit your GP if you are displaying any of these symptoms.

Meningitis is a life-threatening disease, so familiarise yourself with the signs and symptoms just in case. Symptoms can include vomiting, a rash, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, a fever with cold hands and feet, confusion and dislike of bright lights. Be aware of these symptoms in yourself and anyone else. Don’t take chances - go to A&E if you experience any of these symptoms.

Supporting your mental health and wellbeing 

There are lots of great services and opportunities available to help you maintain good mental health and wellbeing. If you are feeling worried, lonely or under pressure, there’s support for you. Whether that’s having a friendly chat with one of our wellbeing advisers, attending our regular wellbeing workshops or accessing our confidential counselling and mental health support. 

To find out more about the support available, visit our student wellbeing page.

In addition, the Res Life team is also here to support you, find out more about what we do for students here.

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Student union advice centre

Visit the advice centre for free and independent support on health, physical and mental wellbeing.
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  • Personal safety

    Being aware of your personal safety is important whether you are living in university accommodation or not. Our accommodation helps to keep you and your belongings safe by providing 24/7 security, CCTV and insurance.

    You can also help keep yourself safe and secure by following these simple steps:

    • Lock your room whenever you leave it (even if you’re just going to the kitchen). Always close your window and lock your door if you’re going out.
    • When going out at night try to travel with other people. Make sure you know how you are going to get home.
    • Order a taxi to pick you up if you are travelling home alone or late. Check the times of the night buses.
    • Let your flatmates know when you’re going to be out, especially if overnight.
    • Keep your phone out of sight while walking along streets, roads and between sites.
    • Don’t walk the streets alone at night or in the early hours of the morning. If you have to walk at night, stay clear of unfamiliar areas. Keep to main roads and don’t take risks.
    • Don’t be afraid to call the police - use 999 for emergency situations. Save the university security number in your phone: 0161 247 1334.

    SafeZone 

    Before you get here, we recommend downloading the SafeZone app. 

    What is SafeZone? 
    We want to ensure all students are safe and our SafeZone App is a great way to have peace of mind when you’re studying or having fun on campus. It’s free to download, easy to use and has lots of really useful features: 

    • ‘Check-in’ any time of day – tell us where you are on campus 24/7 

    • Quickly and discretely call for assistance – whether it’s for first aid or in an emergency 

    • Keep up to date – notifications sent directly to your phone if there is an incident on campus 

    How do I set it up? 
    Download the SafeZone App on Google Play or the App Store by searching for ‘SafeZone’ Read more about the app on this page.

    For more safety tips and information you can download one of our campus ‘Stay Safe’ guides.

  • Fire safety

    When you live in halls, you are responsible for keeping yourself and your flatmates safe. It is important to familiarise yourself with fire procedures for your accommodation when you move in, including evacuation procedures.

    All of our halls are equipped with heat detectors and smoke detectors. However, some sprays, steam and aerosols may set off the alarms, and you must notify your reception if this occurs. In some cases the alarms may trigger a call out from the local fire service, and this can be a serious issue. Try to be aware of the detectors and use any items which trigger the alarm responsibly. The equipment provided is for your safety and must not be misused or interfered with. Misusing or interfering with equipment will result in disciplinary action.

    For your safety and the safety of others, please ensure that all doors are kept closed, including any interconnecting doors. All corridors should be kept clear for fire escape routes, and any items found in corridors will be removed.

    Any fire, however small, must be reported to your accommodation reception as soon as possible so that the damage can be assessed and the relevant safety appliances checked.

    You can also help keep yourself safe by following these simple steps:

    • Do not wedge doors open or tamper with door-retaining springs. Doors prevent smoke and fire spreading.
    • Do not leave any cooking unattended.
    • Do not use chip pans, deep fat fryers or woks, they are not allowed in our accommodation.
    • Do not burn candles, incense, oil burners or other materials that create smoke.
    • Always remember to unplug hair straighteners or curlers.
    • Do not cover heat or smoke detectors.
    • Do not smoke anywhere in university accommodation - this will lead to disciplinary action.

  • Electrical safety

    Any electrical appliances you bring with you to your accommodation must be electrically safe, working and with a good design in accordance with the Electrical Safety Policy. Electrical items should carry an ASTA/EAB kite mark or equivalent European safety conformity marking that can usually be found on the actual body of the appliance. The use of electrical goods is your responsibility and at your own risk. Faulty or damaged equipment can cause electric shocks and often fires, so you shouldn’t use any electrical equipment that is cracked, shows burn marks, has a worn cable, exposed copper wire, is faulty in operation or smells odd when in use. You are responsible for the Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) of any non-rechargeable electric equipment you bring with you. If an item that is deemed to be dangerous is discovered in the accommodation, it may be removed by the accommodation team.