Unable to go to school (From Witney Gazette)

Unable to go to school

2:04pm Monday 15th January 2007 in Witney By Matt Wilkinson

LITTLE Marlene Easter loves going to school where she spends time with her friends and learns new things, despite her serious health condition.

But due to a shortage of community children's nurses in Oxfordshire the five-year-old's educational opportunities are being limited to just three days a week.

Her parents, Emma Viles, 28, and Stephen Easter, 42, of Hannis Road, Chipping Norton, fear their daughter - who was born 13 weeks premature, and has a tracheotomy allowing her to breath - will never be able to go to school regularly like her friends.

Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust can only provide a part-time nurse to be with Marlene at St Mary's Primary School, in Chipping Norton, for three days a week.

Last year, she went to school every day with a full-time nurse.

A hole in her throat, caused by the early birth, means she needs a nurse by her side, to ensure the breathing tube does not become blocked.

Ms Viles said: "She loves school and doesn't like missing a single day. She loves playing with the other kids, and loves to learn.

"She has got her friends, and is very upset when she is not well enough to make it. She gets very moody when she can't go, and should be able to be at school five days a week like any other child her age.

"When she first started school, she was a very quiet and shy girl, but soon came out of her shell and now we're worried she will have to go back to being a hermit again."

A qualified nurse was assigned to St Mary's Primary School last term, but left on Friday, while a replacement nurse employed earlier this month, has chosen not to take up the post.

Funding for a full-time nurse was secured by the primary care trust in September last year.

Ms Viles said: "If her air ways are blocked, she is not able to breath. She needs a nurse at school if there is a life-or-death situation."

Yvonne Barnes, headteacher at St Mary's Primary School, said she was liaising with the health trust to find a replacement.

She added: "We have also suggested that as a short-term measure, one of the parents comes into the school with Marlene, so that she can benefit from social and academic education.

"Due to Marlene's medical needs, it is imperative that she has a qualified person with her at all times."

A spokesman for Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust said there were six children's respite nurses, and one post was vacant.

She added: "A replacement nurse was expected to take over when the child's current nurse went on maternity leave. Unfortunately, the replacement fell through at the last minute, and the children's nursing service is working hard to make alternative arrangements.

"We have experienced difficulties with the availability of suitably qualified nurses.

"We recognise the concerns of the family, and we are in regular contact with them and others involved in the care of the child to ensure there is ongoing assessment of the child's needs, and planning for her long-term support."