School Health Nurse

We are your School Health Nurses Team. We’re part of a locality team, consisting of Specialist Community Public Health Nurses, delivering our Children and Young People 0-19 service.  We’re based at Thame Community Hospital and cover the Primary and Secondary schools in the local area.

What we do

School Nurses provide public health interventions, including (but not exclusive to):

• Someone to talk to confidentially to address issues concerning emotional, physical, sexual, and social health and wellbeing.
• Information and advice on healthy lifestyle choices (keeping safe, smoking cessation, substance misuse advice, healthy weight management).
• Support for teachers with PSHE
• Referral and signposting to specialist services
• A confidential School Nurse drop-in service
• Providing contraception, pregnancy testing and sexual health screening

If we cannot help, we will find someone who can.

Confidentiality

The School Nursing service is confidential. This means we can discuss personal information with young people in confidence and will not discuss it with anyone without their permission, however, we would pass on any information that we feel is needed to protect a young person or someone else from serious harm. Whenever possible this would be discussed with the young person first. We would always encourage a young person to talk to their parent or carer if appropriate.

We take referrals from students, parents/carers, teaching staff and Pastoral Support Officers.

We offer lunchtime/breaktime drop-in services on Mondays at Upper School, and Fridays at Lower school. You can send us a referral via Chat Health or drop in to arrange an appointment.

Email Single Point of Access (SPA): cyp0-19@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Phone: 01865 903800

Students self-referral text or call Chat Health (11-19 years): 07312 263084
Parentline: 07312 263227

For further information regarding Oxfordshire School Health Nurses please see our Facebook Page, website or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service webpage.

In the event of an emergency, please telephone 999. For non-urgent health advice telephone 111 or contact your GP.

• If you don’t feel able to contact your School Nurse you can also gain advice and support from School Nurses online through ChatHealth.
• Please text ChatHealth on 07312 263084 or start a chat via this link Start a chat - ChatHealth
• School Nurses aim to respond to ChatHealth messages within 24 hours, 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).

Confidentiality

The School Nursing service is confidential. This means we can discuss personal information with young people in confidence and will not discuss it with anyone else without their permission. However, we would pass on any information that we feel is needed to protect a young person or someone else from serious harm. Whenever possible this would be discussed with the young person first.

Other health support

• If you require emergency contraception or advice about contraception visit the OXME website http://oxme.info/cms/health/emergency-contraception or email SHN.Oxfordshire@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
• For advice on Covid 19 go to: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
• For urgent concerns contact your GP, for non-urgent advice or help contact 111.  If you are in immediate danger dial 999.