Fears over government's school nurse pledge
Fears have been expressed that the government has jettisoned a
five-year old policy that every secondary school in England should
have a specialist school nurse in place by 2010.
Unite, the largest union in the country, will be asking
ministers what they mean by ‘a school nurse team’ in every local
area, as outlined in the government’s new Vision for a 21st century
children's health service.
In the government’s Choosing Health White Paper, produced in
2004, it was stated that every one of the 3,300 secondary schools
in England and its cluster of primary schools would have a
specialist school nurse in post by 2010 – just ten months
away.
Unite national officer for Health, Karen Reay, said: "However,
we are dismayed that there is only a vague reference in this latest
document to a 'school health team' in every local area, with no
definition as to the size of that area."
According to the latest NHS statistics, there are fewer than 900
whole-time equivalent (WTE) school nurses in England to look after
millions of school children.
Karen Reay said: "We fear that the government has reneged on its
commitment to have a full-time qualified school nurse in every
secondary school.
"However, our members report that the service is at breaking point
- made more pressurised as school nurses are now immunising all
Year 8 girls against cervical cancer. Next year, there will be a
massive 'catch-up' planned for all girls in Years 10 and 11."
Ros Godson, Unite/CPHVA professional officer for school-aged
children, said: "We have called for the immediate employment of
2,000 more qualified school nurses in England to monitor and give
advice on the overall health of school-aged children, on issues
such as teenage pregnancy, and alcohol and drug misuse."
Unite has also called on the government to ensure that all 152
primary care trusts in England commit money to each train ten new
school nurses from September 2009.
ENDS
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS:
The latest NHS workforce statistics show there has been a 9.6
per cent increase in the number of whole-time equivalent (WTE)
school nurses from 815 to 893 in the year up to September, 2007.
According to the DCSF, there were 3,343 secondary schools in
England, as of January 2007.
For further information, please ring:
Karen Reay 07798 531 004; Ros Godson 07764 655 762; Shaun Noble
(communications officer) 020 7420 8951 (direct line) or 07768 693
940 (mobile)
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