Text-a-nurse scheme for youngsters

In a project that started this month, children of secondary school age in Doncaster can 
contact school nurses at the 
touch of a button, with queries 
on issues such as depression, drugs, alcohol and sexual 
health. The move aims to make school nurses “more easily accessible.”

Lynne Schuller, clinical lead for the Healthy Child Programme at the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust, said: “School nurses work with young people up to the age of 19 and they don’t even have to be attending school or college.

“Young people can contact a confidential phone number and ask for support and advice about all kinds of health matters such as stopping smoking, problems with alcohol or drugs, sexual health, feeling down or depressed, diet and exercise, relationships or just issues within the family with parents, brothers and sisters.

“We’re here to listen and help with all health problems – no matter how small young people may think they are.”

Nurses will answer and reply to texts between 9am and 5pm.