Can I get kicked out of uni for this? (Placement uniform

[shouldnthavesaid]

First year doing a healthcare degree. Having a crap time outwith uni and health wise and this is just cherry on top of the icing really.

I have to do a clinical placement in 3 weeks. Uniform provided to me is far too small for me - wont go past my shoulders. Was fitted in Nov last year and due to illness/medication I've gained weight since then. I'm a size 20/22 - one top given to me was 'extra small'.

Uni are saying they can't do much for me. Said they will contact supplier but said they highly doubt I'll be provided with anything at all. I've asked course mates, and course society, and away to email course leader but what the hell do I do? Its Scotland so one standard uniform, needs uni logo so can't just buy one from Alexandras or something. I've even checked eBay and nothing.

If I can't get uniform I can't do placement which is integral part of course, so I assume I'd fail? In which case maybe I'm better going before I'm chucked out ...

1. Get similar looking completely plain uniform

2. Cut logo off the supplied uniform

3. Sew logo onto plain uniform.

4. Do placement.

This. Stop having a drama and just sort out yourself an alternative!

Would a tailor be able to put extra panels in the uniform. A lot of dry cleaners have tailors attaches to them, some are more experienced than others

Can you cut off the logos and stitch them onto a standard uniform?

If you turn up not in uniform, make sure to take the tiny one with you so they can see for themselves.

Speech and Language Therapy .

I'm actually quite normal in rl, I hide things very well. If I'm working (I was employed by NHS for 3 years) my head is so busy I forget all about my own shit. Uni are fully aware of things too and I've spoken with occ health .

Told by family planning (who fitted implant) it can cause weight gain. Doctor/gynae disagreed. I'm inclined to agree with family planning, as gynae also said a whole lot of other rubbish (that endometriosis is a mild and curable condition and caused by obesity). Whether its my fault or not I'm still much bigger than I was in November.

Anyway, have googled and googled (after uni secretary said the supplier also does royal mail and they have the same problems with mixed sizees turning up etc). Google found me royal mail's supplier, and then the name of the factory that holds the NHS Scotland contract . Spoken to a very nice man there who says it isnt a problem at all and the uni just have to ask and they'll help out.

Meantime, I am going to phone GP and stop wallowing in self pity and misery and ask them to actually help me with things. Going for a walk first of all to clear my head.

Thank you for talking me down .

When I asked GP for support they said there isn't any, I don't qualify for primary care mental health as too unwell for that but not ill enough for psychiatric referal just now

I've heard that line used by GPs before and it's ridiculous. If you are feeling strong enough then I would make a complaint via PALS as this gap in services is unacceptable. Also second advise to get support through student services. I found this very useful when I suffered with depression as a student.

I know only 2 well how much weight gain psychiatric meds including antidepressants can cause. Yes ultimately it's because you are eating too much, but when the medication you are on is also an appetite stimulant and you are unwell with a condition that reduces your motivation what do they expect. I also put on 3 stone on my last lot of antidepressants and most of that was in the first 2 months.

As an HCP who suffers from mental health problems, suffered from mental health problems as a student and has had students with mental health problems I think it is worth seriously considering if you are well enough to be on placement. As you are in first year I imagine this could be your first clinical placement. Don't underestimate how physically, mentally and emotionally tough placements can be. You are constantly being required to take in New information, process this and demonstrate learning. You are also working full time hours sometimes in a shift pattern and doing other uni work and background reading outside of placement plus any paid work that you may do. When I am unwell I struggle to function in my job and I am experienced enough to be able to do a considerable ammount on auto pilot.

I know that you want to crack on and do your placements. I was the same just battled on and to be fair came out with reasonable marks despite being severely depressed and suicidal. On the other hand I have had students that have not been in the right mental place to learn and have struggled. If you are already needing to sleep a lot and struggling to get out of bed, how will this be on placement. Consider the impact on your health of the pressures of placement. Is it worth pushing yourself right now and ending up more unwell? Also consider patient safety, as a student you will obviously be supervised and any mistakes should be caught before they become a safety risk, but unsafe practice is a definate fail! If once you get on placement you are struggling then it may be better to get signed off sick and have an incomplete placement due to health grounds which you can 'redo from scratch when more well than to have a failed placement which you can only resit once and will not be able to get more than a 40% pass grade for regardless of how well you do.

I know this is not the advice you were asking for, but your unis offer to defer the year on health grounds might not be the worst thing you could do.

Ah sorry I was assuming your medication was related to your mental health problems.

Ok thinking about it SALT students don't do dysphagia stuff do you so safety will be less of an issue if it is purely communication you are looking at.

I am an ahp working in Scotland who frequently takes students. I'd want the student to be wearing the grey tunic and that would be it, I wouldn't be bothered if the unis name was on it or not. We ask our students to wear their matric cards as a form of I.d and also get them a temporary hospital it. Not having your unis name in your tunic will not impact on your placement!
Double check this with your practice educator though... some are old school about this sort of thing! Years ago when I was on placement I remember getting pulled up about the way id hemmed my trousers and my educator didn't like it!! I hadn't realised that impacted on my practical skills at all!!!

Are there any FB groups set up for your course? People are always selling uniforms on the FB page set up for my healthcare course.

Sounds like you have a good plan op.

Please get in touch with student support and your tutor too, you need some help. You can’t go on being this unhappy.

I ballooned by 3 stone within 6 months of having the implant, I didn't eat junk either despite having awful hunger pains constantly, I've had it removed and voila! Much better. Your GP is crap, can you change surgeries?
Good luck with your placement.

Could you join a union? UNISON have student membership (I joined RCN as a student). They may well be able to provide help the university see sense

You need a different GP, OP. Yours is mushrooming you (keeping you in the dark and feeding you shit)

Yours is mushrooming you (keeping you in the dark and feeding you shit) Love that phrase BBA!!!

OP please don't take the well-meaning advice above to source your own uniform. Your uni / placement have a duty of care to you to ensure you have the correct uniform.

I will do (will try and get a new GP).

In terms of uniform.. have got a tunic that fits now to borrow for this placement only but goodness knows for next time.

Uni said there's nothing they can suggest all - said the supplier refused point blank to do another size - so I've said if they give me the smaller ones back I'll try and diet into them. I need to lose weight for my health anyway.