Health Visitors taking on the role of the school nurse in North Yorkshire link to a Netmums pettion

[Guest guest]

Dear All

If you live in the North Yorkshire area please could you pass on this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YC3NTJD to local parents who will be or are being affected by the cuts in the health visiting and school nursing service in North Yorkshire. North Yorkshire have mounted a strong campaign and Netmums are keen to represent the voice of North Yorkshire parents and support the health visiting and school nursing service.

If you can assist by cascading this link and encouraging North Yorkshire parents to sign the pettion in the link above so Netmums can provide this evidence from local parents to the PCT

Best wishesMaggie

See below for the history behind this if you have missed any of the emails

Dear allI thought I would up date you with our local campaign in North Yorkshire, regarding the decrease in Health Visitor and school nurse numbers due to the reduction in the budget, and health visitors being asked to take on the role of the school nurse.This has been a very good campaign in which most of the Health Visitors and School Nurses have been involved in. Other agencies and the MP's have also raised their concerns and have supported us in our attempt to get the healthy child programme commissioned, and to follow the recommendations of Lord Lamming.We have featured in many local newspapers and radio shows. I have enclosed the latest newspaper article which I found today, this proposed model was first tried out in Harrogate (which is part of our PCT) and following evaluation was shown to be failing, despite this the trust are planning for the rest of the PCT to follow Harrogate's model.I will keep the SENATE updated on this. I hope you all find it interesting. There are so many huge issues within health at the moment, its so important not to lose sight of the professional issues that are happening alongside this.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Health Visitor North Yorkshire and York PCT Staff side CPHVA/ Unite rep & nb sp;

CPHVA local forum branch secretary on behalf of the 0-19 campaign

http://www.harrogateadvertiser.net/harrogatenews/Harrogate-health-visitors-overworked.6459685.jp

Harrogate health visitors 'overworked'«

Published Date: 06 August 2010

By Rick Burin

CONCERNS have been raised over the workload of health visitors in Harrogate, with union leaders calling the way they are utilised "a disgrace".

The number of visitors, whose role is to help children aged five and under, has fallen by more than 10 per cent over the past five years, leading to worries that the remaining 179 are facing too great a strain.Since 2006, their responsibilities have included taking on the work of school nurses which means looking after young people aged up to 19, an initiative that is being extended to the rest of North Yorkshire from September. Reay, national officer for health at the Unite union, said: "It is a disgrace that this PCT, which covers the third largest population of any PCT in England, should have adopted such measures that can only be detrimental to the health and welfare of thousands of families and children."Department of Health guidelines say each secondary school should have its own nurse, with responsibilities ranging from carrying out immunisations to teaching about sexual health.Unite says the trust area has the equivalent of just 8.33 school nurses.A consultation with Harrogate visitors working as school nurses found staffing levels were the main reason why the "0-19" scheme was difficult to maintain, with training also an issue.Last Thursday, at a county council area committee meeting, Coun questioned PCT chiefs about excessive workloads, following a discussion on the doorstep with a health visitor.'Visitor shortage'Speaking to the Advertiser this week, he said: "I'm concerned at the heavy workload, which is apparently higher than the nationally recognished level."There does seem to be an issue and the PCT accepts this."At the meeting, PCT chairman McAleese offered no assurances that workloads would be reduced or that more visitors would be recruited, but said his organisation would try to maintain current staffing levels."There is a national problem with a shortage of health visitors," he said."We are getting letters asking why we can't increase funding in various areas and the answer to those people is that we have no more money, but in terms of health visitors we can't afford to reduce numbers any further."The PCT, which will cease to exist in 2013 under Government plans, has been asked to make savings of £50m in 2010-11, reducing management costs 17 per cent by April, then by 43.7 per cent over the following three years.It has asked staff to consider voluntary redundancy, voluntary reduction in hours and unpaid leave.

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Last Updated: 05 August 2010 5:10 PM Source: Harrogate Advertiser

Location: Harrogate

article also in:

http://www.northyorkshirenews.com/harrogate-news/Harrogate-health-visitors-39overworked39.6459685.jp