SCHOOL NURSES AND TEACHERS GET TOGETHER TO STAGE CONFERENCE

A new organisation for school and public health nurses is to hold its inaugural conference in Derby in October. The SAPHNA UK (School and Public Health Nurses Association) Conference – Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s Adults: Meeting the challenges for public health nursing – will be hosted by the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) at its head offices (2 St. James’ Court Friar Gate, Derby) on Thursday 5 October from 9.30 am – 4.00 pm. Children and young people will also be given the opportunity to take part during a special debate.

SAPHNA UK has recently been formed by a group of experienced practitioners from around the UK. It is a professional organisation “dedicated to the promotion of excellence in practice, taking forward the public health agenda by working in partnerships for the benefit of children and young people and the communities where they live and learn”.

The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) is an independent, no-strike union representing teachers, lecturers, childcarers and education support staff across the UK. PAT has a dedicated section – Professionals Allied to Teaching (PAtT) – for teaching assistants, administrators, technicians and other staff, including nurses, working in schools. PAT and SAPHNA are discussing how they can work together to provide a range of services for their members. As part of this collaboration, PAT offered to host the first SAPHNA Conference.

Tricia Pritchard, Senior Professional Officer with PAT, said: “The conference programme includes a range of high-profile speakers, a debate session involving young people and interactive workshop sessions.

“It will provide an excellent opportunity for delegates to network away from daily pressures in their workplaces and share views and ideas with fellow professionals."

SAPHNA Professional Officer Sharon White said: “This conference has been planned to stimulate thinking and discussion about how school and public health nursing can meet its challenges of delivering on the public health targets to improve the health of today’s children – tomorrow’s adults."

Keynote speakers include: Dr Catherine Powell, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southampton, who will talk about ’information sharing’ between school and public health nurses; Emma Croghan, a specialist community public health nurse (SCPHN)/nurse consultant, on ‘Selling health to children and young people – the challenges for school health’; Peter Coverdale, Workforce Remodelling and Development Adviser/ex primary head teacher, on ‘Extended School Services – the reality of delivering the Government’s Core Offer’; and Babs Young, SCPHN/Department of Health advisor, on ‘The DH agenda for the future of School and Public Health Nursing’.

Children and young people will also be given the opportunity to take part during a debate with Tam Fry of the Child Growth Foundation: ‘To weigh or not to weigh-that IS the question!'

There will also be a choice of Best Practice Presentations on topics including: managing long-term conditions, Community Health Partnerships/Health Promoting Schools (Scotland), looked-after children, and enuresis (bedwetting).

The conference costs £50 for SAPHNA members or £80 for non-members, with a special price for conference and membership of £100. Further details are available on the Events page of the PAT Web site (www.pat.org.uk) or from PAT head office (01332 372 337, pann@pat.org.uk).

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