Health visitors and school nurses 'should not be redeployed to fight Covid-19'

In a letter to the Directors of Nursing, Viv Bennett, chief nurse and director for maternity and early years at Public Health England, states that “professionals supporting children and families, such as health visitors, school nurses, designated safeguarding officers and nurses supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) should not be redeployed to other services”.

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They “should be supported to provide services through pregnancy, early years and to the most vulnerable families”, she adds.

The letter is co-signed by Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, and councillor Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board.

It warns that “the indirect impact of Covid-19 has been significant for pregnant women, children, young people and families. 

“There have been increases in safeguarding concerns, domestic abuse, child and maternal mental health problems as well as lost learning time for all children, impacting on outcomes for safety and wellbeing.

“Sustaining support for families’ needs to be a priority if short and long term harms are to be prevented, identified and mitigated,” the letter states.

Public health and specialist nurses with specific skills required as part of the coronavirus response should discuss their situations with managers, it states, adding that “if these individuals are redeployed this should be for the shortest possible time”.

Children’s minister Vicky Ford has backed the calls, writing on Twitter: “I welcome this clear message from chief public health nurse Viv Bennett that health visitors, school nurses, nurses supporting SEND and designated safeguarding officers should not be redeployed over winter. 

“I thank those on the frontline supporting vulnerable children and families.”

The Disabled Children’s Partnership added: “This is very important and very welcome. Health staff supporting children with SEND should not be redeployed over the winter.”