The number of school nurses and health visitors undertaking degrees thatenable them to register with the Nursing & Midwifery Council hasdrastically reduced during the past year and this trend is set tocontinue.
We recognise there is a financial crisis, but raiding education andtraining budgets and cutting health visitor and school nursing posts tooffset debts is not a solution.
The Government's agenda on health is far-reaching and has clearobjectives in relation to meeting health targets on reducing obesity,teenage pregnancies, health inequalities and restructuring services inrelation to Every Child Matters. However, if the current situationpersists there will be few qualified school nurses and health visitorsleft to do any of this essential work.
A survey conducted by the Royal College of Nursing in 2005 found therewere fewer than 3,000 school nurses in the whole of the country. Thisequates to 4.5 school nurses per Parliamentary constituency, resultingin an average case load of 2,400 pupils per nurse.
We have a responsibility to ensure our children and young people havethe best access to community health services that enable them to makepositive health choices. If the current situation persists the effectsof this short-term "remedy" will last for future generations and beirreversible.
Sarah Sherwin, chair, National Forum of School Health Educators.
