Vol. 515 No. 2
182 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself that the availability of school medical inspections is adequate and in keeping with modern requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5748/00]
The provision of school medical services, as an integral component of child health services, is the statutory responsibility of the health boards.
As a result of the identification of the need for a review of child health services in the health strategy, Shaping a Healthier Future, the chief executive officers of the health boards initiated a review of the services in question. This review resulted in the recent publication of the report Best Health for Children.
The report contains a wide range of recommendations on all aspects of child health services, including the school health service. In so far as the school health service is concerned, the thrust of the report is for a more streamlined service which would be operated in a standardised way in all areas and which would be evaluated regularly to ensure that it is meeting the evolving needs of school children. Specific recommendations cover issues such as the management of the school health service, the roles of health service professionals, teachers and parents, the core programme for child health surveillance, meeting the needs of children with problems and provision of appropriate referral and treatment services.
The chief executive officers have established a national conjoint child health committee and appointed a national child health co-ordinator for the purpose of overseeing implementation of the recommendations of the report in the health boards.
