School nursing: costs and potential benefits.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Nursing Studies

Background:

• Previous research indicated no link between UK school nursing resources and deprivation.
• There is ongoing debate regarding the evolving role of school nursing services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify school nursing resource allocation.
• To investigate the relationship between resource allocation and socioeconomic deprivation.
• To evaluate if school nursing time aligns with current evidence and perceived needs.

Main Methods:

• Employed a quantitative economic analysis and a qualitative descriptive study.
• Conducted a detailed examination of four diverse English districts.
• Utilized a questionnaire and telephone survey across 62 districts, collecting data on staffing, services, population, deprivation, and activity statistics.

Main Results:

• Significant variations in school nursing service costs were observed, with 24% of the variance explained by deprivation, contradicting prior reports.
• Routine screening and surveillance received the most time, while health promotion, support for special needs, and adolescent clinics received less.
• Expenditure on school nursing showed a weak correlation with deprivation.

Conclusions:

• School nursing resource allocation is inequitable across districts.
• The current utilization of school nursing time does not align with evidence-based needs or effectiveness.