The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) said that it fully supports the initiative [1] aimed at providing appropriate medical assistance and nursing care to children attending schools who have underlying medical conditions.
MUMN said it believes that children with medical conditions must have access to appropriate healthcare supervision during school hours to ensure their safety, well-being and proper management of their medical needs.
”Such care should be provided by qualified nurses, who possess the necessary professional knowledge, clinical skills and experience to recognise medical complications and respond appropriately when required,” it said.
The MUMN pointed out that is had raised this initiative during its pre-Budget discussions with the Prime Minister, as the Union firmly ”believes that children with medical conditions deserve proper healthcare support within the school environment.”
MUMN said it considers the direction taken by the Minister for Education and Sport, Byron Camilleri, to be an important step towards strengthening the support system available to these children.
It added that ”having nurses responsible for providing medical assistance will ensure that children receive attention from trained healthcare professionals, while also allowing Learning Support Educators (LSEs) to concentrate on their primary responsibilities of assisting children with learning difficulties and educational needs.”
The MUMN emphasised that medical care and educational support are two distinct responsibilities, and both require appropriately trained personnel. ”Nurses should therefore be recognised as an essential part of the support structure within schools, particularly where children require regular monitoring, medical intervention or assistance with specific health conditions.”
The union also reiterated that any initiative aimed at safeguarding children with medical conditions and ensuring that they receive the appropriate medical attention during school hours will have the Union’s full support.
”Every child deserves to attend school in a safe environment, knowing that qualified healthcare professionals are available to provide the necessary care when required,” it said.
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