School Nursing Service
Our School Nursing teams work across the Trust, both in and out of school, to help provide advice and support to improve health & wellbeing through a universal service for all children 5-19 years. Your school nurse will share lots of information including:
- Maintaining health and development
- Emotional health and wellbeing
- Hearing/Vision
- Immunisations
- Keeping safe
- Healthy lifestyles
- Smoking/Drugs/alcohol
School nursing also deliver the universal Healthy Child Healthy Future Programme for school age children by assessing and identifying health needs in partnership with families and communities and helping people to improve their health.
The teams work Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays) and are based in the following areas:
- Antrim
- Ballyclare
- Ballymena
- Ballymoney
- Carrickfergus
- Coleraine
- Cookstown
- Larne
- Magherafelt
- Newtownabbey
School Immunisations
The School Immunisation Team provides immunisation for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (school leaving booster) Meningitis ACWY and MMR in line with the regional immunisation programme.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
HPV immunisation is offered to all year 9 girls and boys in schools and to those that are educated at home. If you have a child in year 9 they will receive a consent form from their school in early September. It is important you complete and return the form as soon as possible. SIT offer HPV to year 9 and 10. Children above year 10 will be referred to GP.
Meningitis ACWY and Diphtheria Tetanus and Polio Booster
The School Immunisation Team provides immunisations in all post primary schools across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (school leaving booster) Meningitis ACWY and Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), in line with the regional childhood immunisation programme.
Watch the video to find out more about Meningitis ACWY, Diptheria, Tetanus, Polio booster and MMR vaccines and share your feedback with us.
Further information
- NHS Vaccinations
- The HPV vaccine: Questions and answers for parents of all young people aged 12-13 and translations
- Help protect yourself: The essential guide to the HPV vaccination for all young people aged 12 to 13 and translations
Contact information
- School Immunisation Team Co-ordinator – 028 2563 5214
- School Immunisation Team – 028 2563 5212
- School Immunisation Team Administration – 028 2531 3151
School Nursing Continence Service
Issues affecting the bladder and bowel are very common in children and young people and can occur at any age. Issues can include bedwetting, daytime wetting, constipation and/or soiling. Our School Nursing teams are here to support you. If you would like further support from the school nursing continence team, please contact your local school nursing team, the numbers listed on this page.
Below, you will find information and resources to guide and support you in addressing your child’s continence needs.
Bedwetting
Bedwetting is a medical condition which is nobody’s fault. There are three main reasons for children’s bedwetting:
- Their bladders don’t stretch enough to hold all the wee they make at night.
- They produce too much wee at night.
- They don’t wake up when their bladder sends a signal that it’s full.
Children’s bedwetting can be caused by one or more of these reasons. It doesn’t happen because children are lazy or being naughty. Living with enuresis can make children feel sad and embarrassed. The good news is, they all are treatable.
For more information visit Bedwetting – reasons and how to stop it.
Day time wetting
Daytime bladder problems are common in children, particularly in younger children after the potty training stage. Daytime wetting can be a consequence of constipation. The links below are to help families understand daytime wetting and other bladder problems such as ‘frequency and urgency’
For further advice visit Daytime bladder problems – A guide for parents and carers
Constipation
One in three children suffer from constipation at some point, usually starting with potty training. A constipated child has infrequent Bowel movements or hard, dry stools, difficult to pass.
Here are the common causes of constipation and risk factors:
- Most children have what’s known as functional constipation. This means that there’s no underlying physical cause. Their bowel should work properly, but for some reason they’ve become constipated.
- An underlying organic problem with the bowel such as Hirschsprung’s Disease or Spina Bifida. This is usually picked up soon after birth, but not always.
- When children don’t drink enough or have a well-balanced diet their poo can become hard to pass.
- An illness such as a stomach bug can cause dehydration and some medications can be constipating.
- Children with additional needs such as autism or a learning disability are more likely to have tummy problems and become constipated.
- A change in routine such as starting potty training, starting school or feeling worried about something. When children feel anxious it can be hard for them to relax on the potty or toilet.
For more information visit Constipation in children: symptoms, causes and relief.
If you are concerned that your child is suffering from constipation please contact GP to be prescribed appropriate treatment.
Soiling
This is when Poo happens in places other than the toilet, such as in their pants. Soiling often happens when your child is constipated, not because they are being naughty or lazy.
Further advice is available at Soiling (encopresis) in children: causes & treatment.
Teenagers
Bladder and bowel issues can affect teenagers and young adults. Bladder & Bowel UK have a range of resources offering advice about bladder and bowel issues in teenagers, and general bladder and bowel health.
Frequently asked questions
Bladder & Bowel UK have answered a list of frequently asked questions regarding bladder problems, bowel problems and toilet training that would be of benefit to parents and children.
