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School nurses 'at breaking point' School nurses overburdened - RCN
(about 7 hours later)
School nurses have to provide care for an average of 2,590 pupils, the Royal College of Nursing says. "Overburdened" school nurses provide care for an average of 2,590 pupils, the Royal College of Nursing says.
An RCN survey of 1,600 school nurses suggests two-thirds feel overstretched and feel they are not given support.An RCN survey of 1,600 school nurses suggests two-thirds feel overstretched and feel they are not given support.
The RCN says government targets to place a school nurse in every secondary school and cluster of primary schools by next year are unlikely to be met.The RCN says government targets to place a school nurse in every secondary school and cluster of primary schools by next year are unlikely to be met.
But the government said good progress has been made in increasing the numbers of school nurses. But the government said good progress had been made in increasing the numbers of school nurses.
The survey shows that nearly three-quarters are spending a significant amount of time dealing with child protection and that they would like this to reduce to allow them to concentrate on other areas.The survey shows that nearly three-quarters are spending a significant amount of time dealing with child protection and that they would like this to reduce to allow them to concentrate on other areas.
Janet Davies, of the RCN, said: "School nurses are on the frontline in improving the lives of children.Janet Davies, of the RCN, said: "School nurses are on the frontline in improving the lives of children.
"Overburdened school nurses are looking after too many pupils and it is children who are being disadvantaged."Overburdened school nurses are looking after too many pupils and it is children who are being disadvantaged.
"This report demonstrates that delivering this pledge would mean making as much progress in the next year as we have seen in the last four.""This report demonstrates that delivering this pledge would mean making as much progress in the next year as we have seen in the last four."
SurveySurvey
WHAT SCHOOL NURSES DO Child protectionMonitoring health developmentVaccinationsStudent counsellingSex educationMental health issuesAddressing obesityProviding medicationAddressing bullyingWHAT SCHOOL NURSES DO Child protectionMonitoring health developmentVaccinationsStudent counsellingSex educationMental health issuesAddressing obesityProviding medicationAddressing bullying
In the survey, 70% of the state school nurses said having to attend child protection case conferences is one of the most time-consuming activities.In the survey, 70% of the state school nurses said having to attend child protection case conferences is one of the most time-consuming activities.
Administering vaccines was a big burden for a third of those nurses and the same proportion complained that the cervical cancer or HPV vaccine was taking up most of their time.Administering vaccines was a big burden for a third of those nurses and the same proportion complained that the cervical cancer or HPV vaccine was taking up most of their time.
Nurses in independent schools said running a sick bay, providing medication and pupil counselling were their top activities.Nurses in independent schools said running a sick bay, providing medication and pupil counselling were their top activities.
The average number of schools covered by state sector school nurses has decreased over the last four years and the average number of pupils they are looking after has dropped from 2,728 in 2005 to 2,590 in 2009.The average number of schools covered by state sector school nurses has decreased over the last four years and the average number of pupils they are looking after has dropped from 2,728 in 2005 to 2,590 in 2009.
Across all school nurses, two-thirds consider their workload too heavy and 56% feel overstretched in their role.Across all school nurses, two-thirds consider their workload too heavy and 56% feel overstretched in their role.
DemandsDemands
School nurse Joy Winks said: "Things have got a little better in terms of the number of nurses, but the demands on us just keep going up.School nurse Joy Winks said: "Things have got a little better in terms of the number of nurses, but the demands on us just keep going up.
"School nurses want to protect children and help them to make healthier choices."School nurses want to protect children and help them to make healthier choices.
"When we can spend enough time with them, we can make a real difference for young people in many areas. ""When we can spend enough time with them, we can make a real difference for young people in many areas. "
The RCN is warning that if the shortage of nurses is not addressed now there is a serious risk of a "lost generation" of adults being blighted by long-term health problems in the future.The RCN is warning that if the shortage of nurses is not addressed now there is a serious risk of a "lost generation" of adults being blighted by long-term health problems in the future.
Rosalind Gosden of the trade union Unite, which represents school nurses, said: "Qualified school nurses should be the lead for school age children's public health and should deliver this.Rosalind Gosden of the trade union Unite, which represents school nurses, said: "Qualified school nurses should be the lead for school age children's public health and should deliver this.
"We see it as a great health inequality that privately educated children and young people in secondary schools have access to this vital service but state educated young people get such an over stretched service."We see it as a great health inequality that privately educated children and young people in secondary schools have access to this vital service but state educated young people get such an over stretched service.
"We are dismayed that so many school nurses report that they do not get time off for training.""We are dismayed that so many school nurses report that they do not get time off for training."
A Conservative spokesman, the Shadow Children's Minister, Tim Loughton said: "School nurses should be amongst our chief defusers of public health's ticking time bombs.A Conservative spokesman, the Shadow Children's Minister, Tim Loughton said: "School nurses should be amongst our chief defusers of public health's ticking time bombs.
"Despite the government's promises to expand this vital taskforce they are being increasingly thinly spread, pushed from pillar to post by an avalanche of government initiatives and too often spending much of their time acting as surrogate social workers.""Despite the government's promises to expand this vital taskforce they are being increasingly thinly spread, pushed from pillar to post by an avalanche of government initiatives and too often spending much of their time acting as surrogate social workers."
Increasing numbersIncreasing numbers
But a Department of Health spokesman said: "Good progress has been made in increasing the numbers of school nurses with a school nurse qualification.But a Department of Health spokesman said: "Good progress has been made in increasing the numbers of school nurses with a school nurse qualification.
"The 2008 census showed there were 3,643 qualified nurses in the school nursing area of work with an increase of 1,234 or 51.22% since 2004."The 2008 census showed there were 3,643 qualified nurses in the school nursing area of work with an increase of 1,234 or 51.22% since 2004.
"Of these, there were 1,447 school nurses with a post-registration school nurse qualification."Of these, there were 1,447 school nurses with a post-registration school nurse qualification.
"This is an increase of 591 or 69.04% since 2004."This is an increase of 591 or 69.04% since 2004.
"Each school population is unique, with its own health needs, which is why Primary Care Trusts are responsible for determining how to use the funding allocated to them to commission services to meet the health needs of their local population.""Each school population is unique, with its own health needs, which is why Primary Care Trusts are responsible for determining how to use the funding allocated to them to commission services to meet the health needs of their local population."