Anger at plan to scrap Cumbria's school nurses

Ian Stewart says services must be better integrated

Plans to scrap traditional school nurses could put the health of children at risk, head teachers have warned.

Cumbria County Council wants to replace its 11 registered nurses with a team of six health co-ordinators who will be centrally based in Carlisle.

The authority claims the £927,000 a year service is now unaffordable.

But teachers and the organisation representing school nurses, described the move as "a disaster" and said the county is losing a skilled workforce.

The changes mean schools will have to "buy in" any services currently undertaken by school nurses from their own budgets from 1 April. They are paid for at present from public health budgets.

The council claims the move will better integrate services and help in its struggle to save £52m between 2017 and 2020.

School nurses provide health screening and advice on teenage pregnancy, emotional health, obesity and drug and alcohol abuse.

Graham Frost, of the Cumbria branch of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "I don't like to imagine children going without the health care support that they need, or having their education impaired by loss of services.

"But it is quite clear that with fewer teachers and fewer school nurses, we are sailing into very difficult times."

Graham Frost claims pupils' health could be affected by the changes

Ian Stewart, cabinet member for public health at the council, said: "We are trying to better integrate the service and make sure more people are responsible for the health of our young people."

Sharon White, professional officer of the School and Public Health Nurses Association, said: "This is a disaster and is quite tragic.

"Cumbria will be losing an expert and highly skilled workforce."

The existing school nurses are expected to redeployed within the NHS.