STUDENTS at the University of York are calling for talks with a health centre on the campus following "a large number" of complaints about its services.

The call follows claims that a student was told she had pulled a muscle, when she had in fact suffered a kidney infection which later needed hospital treatment.

Other students have complained of a "dismissive attitude" on the part of GPs at the on-campus health centre, particularly towards females making inquiries about matters of sexual health.

But York Primary Care Trust has hit back at the allegations, saying the practice has tried without success to talk to the student body about them.

Jenna Khalfan, education and welfare officer for the students' union, said the concerns dated back a number of years.

"We have wanted to open some kind of constructive dialogue with the health centre," she said.

"Unfortunately, they don't seem keen to respond. We want to make this a positive process."

The student newspaper, York Vision, has profiled several students with concerns over the service. But the trust says none of the students named has lodged a complaint.

Ms Khalfan said several students had claimed they were "scared" of visiting the practice. The students' union now promotes other surgeries and the walk-in centre, in Monkgate, instead of the health centre.

A spokeswoman for the university said: "The health centre is run by an independent practice, it just happens to be on university land.

"Students are free to register with whichever practice they like, and problems between them and their GPs are a personal matter."

A spokeswoman for York Primary Care Trust said: "All complaints raised about the care offered by GPs are taken extremely seriously.

"We understand that as soon as the practice became aware of concerns expressed via the York Student Union, an offer was made to meet with their welfare and education officer. This offer was not taken up.

"The practice is keen to find out why this situation has arisen, and will be writing to all the students enclosing a copy of their complaints procedure."

Partners at the practice were contacted for their views by the Evening Press, but had not responded at the time of going to press.

Updated: 11:56 Wednesday, June 19, 2002