On 5th September, 2018 clinical team members of the Children & Young People’s Health Partnership (CYPHP) attended the annual school nurse training day at Sunshine House, Children and Young People’s Development Centre. The team were invited to provide an update for asthma and epilepsy care in schools. There were approximately 30 to 40 school nurses who attended the teaching day.
The training aimed to cover essential knowledge and skills that school nurses may need when supporting the care and treatment of students with asthma or epilepsy. Specifically, for each condition the teaching covered diagnostic criteria, daily treatments, and what to do in an emergency. With regards to asthma, inhaler technique was also discussed and shown, and for epilepsy, how to administer emergency buccal midazolam was focused on.
The training further involved discussions about guidelines, other treatment options, and when and how to make referrals. There was also much discussion about how CYPHP and the school nursing team could work together more to help provide better services across Lambeth and Southwark.
At the start of the day, the CYPHP team spent some time explaining the CYPHP Health Check and the benefits of families receiving a summary of the child’s results and a Health Support Pack. The conversation focussed on suggested ways that school nurses could encourage their patients to complete the Health Check. This prompted much conversation, with positive feedback from the school nurses who were complimentary about the Health Check, and its benefits for families and professionals.
It seemed that all the teaching was well received. The presentations that were used on the day will soon be used by the school nurses in their training sessions with schools in the future.
We look forward to a great working relationship with the school nurses, and more joint training sessions at schools.
If you would like to know more about the CYPHP asthma or epilepsy team, and how they can support your school staff, visit the CYPHP website.