Public health nurses are able to provide advice and support on many childhood health and development issues. Initially this advice and support will most likely be provided in a video consultation but if you need further support, this may take place over the telephone, another video consultation or face to face in your home, child’s school or local health centre.
During the appointment we will discuss the issues your child or young person is facing and come up with a plan to support them. This plan may include linking up with your child’s school or college.
If your child has been referred to our service by your GP, school or local children’s centre we will be in touch with you to set up an e-school nurse video appointment.
Depending on your child’s circumstances, support could be in the form of:
- a single advice session
- temporary support of 1 to 2 weeks
- a 6 week programme of support
- group work with other children or young people at school who are in a similar situation
- signposting to useful online information and organisations
- exercises and strategies for you and your child to try at home
If your child needs more support than we’re able to provide, we’ll refer them to other specialist services such as:
- Children’s Community Nursing
- Children’s Speech and Language
- Bladder and Bowel service
- Barnado’s MyTime Cumbria
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
We support and empower children and young people to improve their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. We can help them manage and improve their:
- weight
- emotional health
- digital wellbeing
- risk taking behaviour
We also help with:
- allergies and asthma
- continence problems including constipation and night or daytime wetting
- diet and eating problems
- emotional problems e.g. feeling sad, angry, anxious or worried
- existing health conditions
- general health and development issues including minor illnesses, speech, hearing, vision and motor skills
- self-esteem and confidence building
- sexual health including STIs, contraception, sexuality and puberty
- substance misuse including cigarettes, alcohol and drugs
We also train and work with school staff on how to identify and manage mental health in the classroom, as well as how to manage conditions such as allergies and asthma.
Healthy Habits for Life is a free programme run by the Public Health 5-19 team for families in Cumbria with children in Reception to Year 7 who want to make the change to a healthier lifestyle. Families will be offered 1:1 support and advice on a range of areas.
A Public Health Practitioner will arrange to meet with you at a time and place to suit you and your family, this could be in your own home, at school or via video and will work with you over a number of weeks.
If you would like to know more or want your child to be included please contact us via the E-School Nurse clinic E-SchoolNurse@ncic.nhs.uk
In order to provide health support and advice for children in Cumbria, we offer an easy to access online E-School Nurse Service.
The video clinics are available for professional, parents and carers across the whole of Cumbria all day Tuesday and Thursdays.
Instead of being face to face, you will talk to the nurse over a live video link that is private and secure.
The nurse, in consultation with you will assess the child's health problems and provide you with support and advice.
For more information on the E-School Nurse video clinic please read the E-School Nurse Service user (PDF 302KB).
Please download our E-School Nurse poster (PDF 335KB) and display in your staff areas.
To book an appointment telephone: 01228 603973.
(Open Monday to Friday from 8am until 4pm)
The school aged screeners are a small team who visit every primary school in Cumbria with two primary functions, with consent from parents / guardians.
- To perform vision screening to all reception children, referring to the orthoptic service where necessary.
- To screen the height and weight of all reception and year 6 pupils to collate information for the National Child Measurement Programme.
The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), also known as the School Height and Weight Checks, is a mandated annual programme delivered by local authorities, which involves measuring the height and weight of all school children in reception and year 6.
A child’s weight category affects their health and wellbeing. Growing healthily and maintaining a healthy weight is important not only for a child’s physical, social and mental wellbeing but also for their capacity to do well at school
The wellbeing of children and families is very important. Measurements are conducted in a sensitive way, in private and away from other children. The weight and height information is shared with the parent or carer in a feedback letter, where letters are provided. No individual information is shared with the children themselves, teachers or the school. It is a parent’s choice if they share the information with their child. If a parent is concerned about their child’s growth, weight, body image or eating patterns, NCMP feedback letters provide national and local information to support parents and advise on when to seek further support from a General Practitioner
Data collected through the NCMP is returned to NHS Digital, where it is analysed. A report summarising local and national data is then published. Local areas use this high-quality data to inform the development and delivery of services to tackle child obesity.
North Cumbria team
Claire O’Neill
claire.o’neill2@ncic.nhs.uk
Sam Fell
sam.fell@ncic.nhs.uk
Michelle Young
michelle.young@ncic.nhs.uk
South Cumbria team
Yvonne Rowlinson
yvonne.rowlinson@ncic.nhs.uk
Donna Moore
donna.moore@ncic.nhs.uk
West Cumbria team
Charlotte Thompson
charlotte.thompson2@ncic.nhs.uk
Louise Pearson
louise.pearson@ncic.nhs.uk