Medical man
12 October 2010
New voice for Cardiff healthcare students, Oli Luton
Ensuring Cardiff University’s 5,000 healthcare students get access to support services, improved transport links and feel connected to the rest of the University community is by no means a simple task – but it’s one newly elected student healthcare officer, Oli Luton has vowed to take head-on.
Oli, whose just completed the third year of his medical degree, takes over the reins as Cardiff Students’ Union new Healthcare Integration Officer – a role designed to provide a voice for the University’s Heath Park-based healthcare students.
“I love a good challenge, and there seems to be none bigger than pleasing the healthcare students of Cardiff University” insists Oli. “I enjoy doing different things and learning different skills – it’s a chance to really affect change and a job which provides these opportunities, why wouldn't you want to do it.”
However, the size of the task ahead is not lost on Oli – not to mention the variety of issues that affect such a diverse healthcare community including medics, nurses, dentists and midwives.
On his list of items to do, improving support services at the Heath Park campus ranks among the highest and he’s already taken up a variety of student concerns – most notably, challenging plans to cut hardship funds for some of the most vulnerable students and making an important pledge to support nursing students.
Oli says: “There are numerous issues that need to be addressed this year – a great deal of focus was placed on the medics last year.
“However this year, I feel nurses will also benefit from focus, not regarding their course structure but more to do with their social engagement with the rest of the University and even with each other.
“I intend to address their housing situation regarding hall allocation in their first year where most nurses and healthcare students tend to be pigeon holed into living in the same flats. Also, I would like to look further into their intake system in which half the year group arrives in September and the other half in March.”
Oli is also keen to use his time in office to remind people of the positive contribution healthcare students make to the University and the wider community.
“A lot of focus can be given to the negative aspects of student life, especially in the media, however people need to recognise all the good work that is being done by the students and staff at the Heath Park Campus.
“We have an abundance of unique societies, ranging from the ever efficient MedSoc which aid all type of social, academic and welfare issues faced up at the Heath, to the newer societies representing Midwives and Nursing student (MANS), Physios (PACS) or dentists (Dental SOC).
“We also have amazing charitable societies, who under the Heath Rag leadership this year raised almost £10,000 over two weeks. Then we have the sports team who all compete at a multitude of levels in the BUCS championship, hosting most traditional sports with the Medics rugby competing in the same league as the University Men’s 1st XV.”
Healthcare students who would like advice or to raise an issue of concern, can contact Oli on 02920 781420 or by emailing: LutonO@cardiff.ac.uk
