One in three school staff are giving medical support to children when it is not their responsibility without adequate training, a shock report shows.
A survey of almost 10,000 school support staff shows one in three of those who provided medical support for pupils did so without adequate training.
Procedures performed by those without adequate training includes catheterisation, rectal medication, tracheostomy care, tube (PEG) feeding, assistance with colostomy bags, refilling oxygen tanks, stoma care, support with seizures and line safety.
For those who had received training, a third said it had not been delivered by a health care professional, while just one in ten respondents were aware of having medical support in their job description,
Meanwhile 75 per cent or respondents said they did not have a nurse in their school to support pupils' medical needs.
GMB call for an NHS led service with trained nurses in all state funded schools.
Stacey Booth, GMB National Officer, said:
“Thousands of school support staff are giving medical support to pupils when it is not their responsibility and without adequate training.
“It’s a terribly distressing situation for children, parents and staff.
“We must have an NHS trained nurse in all state schools, to support workers and let them concentrate on educating our children to be safe in the knowledge that all pupil’s needs will be met.
"Clinical tasks must be carried out by NHS staff ensuring the best heath care provision for all children."
