Bid to improve children's health

Bid to improve children's health

Concern is growing over children's health

School nurses are to be given an enhanced role in improving children's health.

The Scottish Executive plans will see them taking on additional duties to try and tackle public health issues, as well as looking for signs of child abuse.

The move comes amid concerns that many children do not get enough exercise, with 8% of school pupils classified as overweight and more than 13% of teenage girls smoking.

Nurses will be given a wider role as the community school programme is introduced over the next four years.

They will move from treating cuts and bruises to dealing with deep-seated problems like healthy eating, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, dental health and helping pupils suffering from chronic conditions such as asthma.

This framework is the tool we will use to deliver a revolution in school nursing, putting behind us forever the old image of the nit nurse

Malcolm Chisholm
Health Minister

They will be charged with assessing health needs in individual schools and working to address them in partnership with schools, children and parents.

Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm and Education Minister Cathy Jamieson launched the initiative service at a primary school in Edinburgh.

Mr Chisholm said: "This framework marks the executive's commitment to improving the health and well being of our children and young people and celebrates the vital, but previously unsung role that nurses play in supporting school children.

"Two of our priorities in health improvement directly relate to children and young people - the early years and the transition into teenage years. School nurses have a significant contribution to make in achieving our aspirations in both areas.

"This framework is the tool we will use to deliver a revolution in school nursing, putting behind us forever the old image of the nit nurse and developing a service for our children and young people committed to improving their health and well being in partnership with colleagues in education."

Health care research

A £1m training partnership project for nurses, midwives and health professionals has also been unveiled.

The scheme will address the contribution that can be made to health care research.

The aim is to help to develop the number of people within the professions who have the knowledge and experience to undertake rigorous research.

Historically nurses have found it difficult to find funding for vital research

Pat Dawson, RCN Scotland

The partnership will be between the Scottish Executive, NHS Education for Scotland and the PPP Foundation charity.

Pat Dawson, head of policy for nursing union RCN Scotland, welcomed the strategy.

She said: "The Scottish framework for nursing in schools has been widely consulted on and we welcome its emphasis on the essential role nurses can play in contributing to the health and well-being of children and young people and their communities across Scotland."

The union also welcomed the new training partnership project for nurses, midwives and health professionals.

Ms Dawson said nursing research was key to providing and improving the quality of patient care.

"Historically nurses have found it difficult to find funding for vital research," she added.

"We are delighted that this scheme will provide new ways for nurses and allied health professionals to access research funding."