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Cardiff University has been ordered to pay more than £9,000 to an anti-vaccination student who was unable to carry on with a healthcare course.

The student told the university they had never been or would be vaccinated - but this was only noticed after they had begun their studies.

University staff raised their concerns and it was decided that the student would be "withdrawn" from the course because it could put the health of patients at risk.

Despite the risks, the student - whose identity has not been revealed - lodged a complaint and appealed against the decision.

(Image: WalesOnline)

Now the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) has ordered the university to pay the student £9,342 in compensation.

Anti-vaxxers have been widely discredited and their beliefs put people at risk , with false information often spread on social media.

A case summary by the OIA said when the student started the course they filled out an occupational health questionnaire and stated they had not had any vaccinations and would not consent to be vaccinated.

It added the questionnaire was not reviewed until a couple of months after the student started the course.

Concerns were raised about the student's safety for practical work and staff spoke to the student about the consequences of not being immunised.

Cardiff University then decided to begin an internal investigation - called a fitness to practice process.

The OIA summary said: "The Fitness to Practise Committee determined that the student’s fitness to practise was impaired. It acknowledged the student’s right to choose not to be vaccinated.

"The committee considered whether the student had shown sufficient insight into the transferral of infections and viruses, and whether self-assessment of their own health would be a suitable precaution to mitigate the risk of infecting others.

"The committee concluded that allowing the student to continue on the course would put their health and the health of patients at risk.

"The student was withdrawn from the course but permitted to transfer to a non-professional programme."

(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

The student then lodged a complaint and appeal against this decision.

Cardiff University later upheld the complaint - admitting information for applicants had not been "sufficiently clear" and the process could have "progressed more promptly".

The OIA also said the university's website and the letter offering the student a place did not have any information about vaccination requirements.

The university initially offered the student £5,000 in compensation - and rejected the student's appeal against the decision that the student was not fit to practise.

However, the OIA said that figure should be increased by more than £4,000 because the student had already paid for their accommodation.

The student watchdog also recommended that Cardiff University should review how it handles occupational heath forms and the information made available to prospective students.

However, the OIA ruled the university had been "fair and transparent" in the way it dealt with the student, once the issue had arisen.

A Cardiff University spokesman said: “While we don’t comment on individual cases, we do fully co-operate with all OIA investigations and comply with any recommendations.

"We recognise the importance of the OIA's role as ombudsman in the higher education sector and proactively advise our students that they are able to take a case to the OIA at the conclusion of any internal procedures."