Review of population health needs of children with complex medical needs attending Special Education Needs (SEN) Schools
Date published:
The Department of Health has published a detailed report reviewing the population health needs of children with complex medical conditions attending Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools across Northern Ireland.
Welcoming the publication, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “This detailed report from the Public Health Agency (PHA) highlights significant regional variations in the provision of health care for children with complex needs in SEN schools. It is clear that further work is required to ensure equitable and timely access to appropriate healthcare services for all children.”
The Minister acknowledged the importance of addressing the findings and confirmed immediate action.
He added:
“The report identifies a number of areas where immediate improvements are required. I have therefore asked my Chief Nursing Officer to work closely with policy leads in the Department and other key stakeholders to progress the report’s recommendations.”
The review was commissioned in late 2024 and involved engagement with SEN school principals, parents, and other key stakeholders. It provides a detailed assessment of the healthcare challenges faced by pupils, the complexity of their needs, and the support systems required to deliver timely, child-specific care.
Chief Nursing Officer Maria McIlgorm thanked the report’s authors for the work completed to date and acknowledged the further work necessary.
“This report highlights the need for partnership working, within multi-disciplinary teams and across government, to meet the complex health needs of these children,” she said.
“We acknowledge this and will continue to work in partnership to ensure children receive comprehensive, timely, multi-disciplinary support tailored to meet their assessed individual healthcare needs.”
The Department remains committed to ensuring that children attending SEN schools continue to receive the highest standard of care.
Notes to editors:
- The report can be read in full here.
- Following engagement with SEN school principals last year, Minister Nesbitt visited a range of SEN schools to explore the issue of on-site nursing provision in those schools.
- In October last year, the PHA was commissioned to work in partnership with a range of stakeholders to undertake a comprehensive needs assessment, scoping the healthcare needs of children attending SEN schools.
- The PHA report:
- identifies the specific health challenges being faced by these pupils;
- provides an understanding of the complexity of their need; and
- determines the support systems necessary to ensure timely child-specific care.
- While the further work identified in the review is ongoing, there will be no change to existing nursing provision in SEN schools
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