The RCN has again warned there may not be enough school nurses in some areas to deliver a UK-wide programme to vaccinate school girls against cervical cancer. The College has expressed concerns that the programme, involving 300,000 pupils, may vastly increase the workload of some school nurses.
Fiona Smith, RCN Adviser in Children and Young People?s nursing said:
?I have been contacted by some team leaders to say things are not in place. If we look across the board there are some areas that are better prepared than others. Some primary care trusts appear to be looking at current school nursing resources to actually deliver this?.
The RCN has already questioned whether the Government had allocated sufficient resources to health organisations to roll out the immunisation programme. The College also highlighted the issue of training; questioning whether sufficient training had been provided for school nurses to answer young people?s queries in an appropriate and informed way.
From 04 September 2008, all girls aged 12 and 13 will be offered the vaccination in three doses over a six-month period. Nurses will also run a 'catch-up' programme for older girls under the age of 18 from autumn 2009. http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/article/uk/rcn_supports_hpv_vaccination_programme
Original source: http://sushslibrary.wordpress.com/?p=16
