DS is in first year halls. During the night (approx 2am) I received messages from him saying he was very unwell and an ambulance had been called. I wasn't able to get through to him by phone. I tried phoning the hospital but they didn't pick up, so I called the university's 24 hour helpline. Unfortunately, they couldn't tell me anything because DS hadn't given "third party consent". All they could suggest was that I called the police to conduct a "welfare check".
Before I could resort to that, my DS phoned (phew!). They were in A&E, feeling very unwell, but receiving treatment.
It was some sort of virus or infection, and he was sent home later the same day, rehydrated via a drip, and with antibiotics.
Now he is feeling a bit better, we have tracked down the "third party consent" form and he has completed it. But it wasn't flagged to him during registration, and he will need to fill it in again every academic year.
He did specify Emergency Contact Details during registration, and we were both surprised that the hall of residence didn't use those after sending him off to the hospital in an ambulance.
Aibu to think they should have called?
Nobody from the university has checked on his welfare. Luckily, now that he is back at the hall, his friends are checking in on him.