NURSES have warned that cuts to council services in York could harm children’s health.

In a budget set to be agreed last night, £150,000 is cut from the healthy child service over the next two years.

The money funds health visitors and school nurses, but the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned the restructuring ignores the fact that demand for help is growing especially in mental health, and could damage services.

The RCN’s regional director in Yorkshire, Glenn Turp, said: “We are asking York council to listen to the views of our members - highly skilled and experienced nurses who work with families and young people every day.

“They are telling us that these proposals will not work and that the changes could be harmful to vulnerable children.

“Child health in the UK is lagging behind other European countries and problems are exacerbated by inequality and poverty; we simply cannot afford to be cutting corners in this area.”

The college has warned that qualified nurses are resigning - something they think could be because of proposed changes - and that staff shortages loom.

There are also worries over where staff working at special schools stand, and fears that stopping the nurses giving prescriptions which will put more strain on NHS services.

Further, they have raised fears over inconsistent job descriptions and council nurses losing their national nursing registration, and a lack on consultation which has seen only a few schools asked what they think of plans.

York Press:

School nurses and health visitors are often the “first port of call” for children and families in difficulty, and their unique position means they can help with everything from counselling to talking about healthy lifestyles to child protection, the college has said.

Having a health professional nearby who they can talk to in confidence can play a key role in tackling mental health issues before they become critical, they added.

Cllr Stuart Rawlings, who is responsible for children’s services at City of York, said their plans did involve a cut for the healthy child programme but added: “School nurses and health visitors remain a key part of the early intervention strategy, but if services are already available for free elsewhere it seems sense to direct parents to that source.

"There is no intention to remove provision, but the direct people to those other services, where the council can make savings.”