After experiencing a series of unprovoked functional neurological attacks in Easter term last year, I encountered both the adequacies and inadequacies of the welfare system in the University as a whole, and also at a college level.

The in-college tutorial system provided some immediate relief after first being hospitalised, particularly in regard to relieving pressures on academic deadlines. As my condition deteriorated and hospitalisations began to increase, my college tutor became more immediately involved: visiting in hospital and preparing for the eventuality of not taking exams.

However, for an extended period of time there were miscommunications between different areas of the University and college system. While the tutorial system was aware of the situation at hand, many out-of-college supervisors had notbeen fully informed and continued to set essays and send supervision reports. 

While this may seem a mundane and easily-fixed problem, I strongly believe that there should be a system in place which allows for tutors to contact a student’s supervisors to relieve the pressure on the student in cases of acute mental or physical illness.

As I fell ill during Easter term, my tutor filed an application for a DDH (Deemed to have Deserved Honours) which meant I would not have to sit any of my exams. My tutor seemed somewhat unaware of the process which had to be undertaken, meaning I was often told at the last minute that they needed a certain form signed, a GP letter or a letter from the consultant.

While this paperwork is necessary to take to the University Council, the process of attaining it overlooks the welfare of the student. I found I was left unsure of the situation and received ambiguous answers when I asked my tutor about the application. It was not actually confirmed until two weeks before the start of Michaelmas that I had been granted the exemption from exams.

It soon became evident, however, that while my college tutor was able to correct paperwork, he was thoroughly underprepared to deal with both the physical and psychological fallout associated with a serious illness and extended hospital stay.

The overly bureaucratic nature of the tutorial system meant that my fundamental welfare within college was overlooked. If the paperwork had been sent off, it was assumed that the problem had been solved.

While it is true that there are welfare provisions in college such as the college nurse and counsellor, the accessibility and professionalism of these provisions are questionable. With no disability welfare officer in my college, and tutors who sometimes seem unapproachable, I found that there were few immediately accessible sources of advice. However, the college has provided some sustainable support to allow me to continue with my studies, agreeing to pay for private medical treatment.

I think it is of upmost importance that there are both student disability welfare officers who can provide immediate relief, and professional in-college welfare officers who are affiliated with the University who can provide advice on intermitting due to illness or missing exams.