Blind School's move to axe nurses 'puts children at risk'

Published on Wednesday 26 May 2010 09:52

THE ROYAL Blind School has been accused of putting children at risk by axing nearly half of its nursing posts.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said the move would leave only one nurse to cover at any one time at the school's Morningside and Newington campuses.

Nursing staff have already been told of the plans after the school – which was attended by author Ian Rankin's son – suffered a drop in admissions.

Lynn McDowall, professional officer for the RCN in Edinburgh, said: "We are angry about this because even the nurses have said this level of cover is not safe for the children.

"The children's care will be compromised.

"We appreciate the roll is falling and the situation has to be looked at, but as far as we can see no other area is being targeted.

"They want to introduce a nursing rota that only has one on duty at a time, but this is not safe, they need more than that."

It is understood the move will have a greater impact on the Canaan Lane site of the school, which houses around 15 residential students. Pupils there have significant care needs which extend well beyond visual impairment, and the presence of nurses is absolutely vital, the union said.

"A lot of these children have complex needs, and the nurses there, who have got to know these children and watch them grow up, are extremely concerned," Ms McDowall added.

"What happens if you have a child in one room having a seizure, then another next door choking? You can't just keep phoning 999. One of the benefits of going to this school is that they don't need to spend lots of time in hospital."

The school's roll has fallen in recent years as families struggle to scrape together the fees of up to 60,000 for residential care.

A school source said: "This decision has really set the alarm bells ringing. Everyone is saying the same thing here, this is not going to be safe.

"They say they've consulted with parents but that is not the case in those I've spoken with."

No-one from the school was willing to comment.

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