Western Mail

Children for diabetes due to virus concerns

- For further advice visit the NHS Wales symptom checker at 111.wales.nhs.uk and search for diabetes.

larly at night;

■ Tiredness; and

■ Thinner – weight loss and loss of muscle bulk

Other signs include throat or urinary tract infection, abdominal pain, vomiting, rapid breathing (which mimics a chest infection down.

Unison said staff “are very keen to welcome all pupils back to school as soon as is safely possible but serious concerns remain over the practicali­ties of reopening at the end of June”.

Sara Allen, Unison Cardiff schools convenor, said: “Our experience at the hubs already indicates how things could pan out, with support staff being asked to provide lunchtime cover, cleaning duties in classrooms, and direct support to pupils. that is not responding to treatment), and confusion and disorienta­tion.

The number of children and young people who would usually be seen by health profession­als in Wales seems to have fallen since the pandemic began.

“Some of the reports we are getting in from support staff across Wales are extremely concerning – schools with no hot running water, 80 staff called to attend a meeting the next day, staff told to go home to use the toilet, risk assessment­s only being carried out for vulnerable staff – the list goes on.

“We all want to see schools open again, but not at any cost.”

Jonathan Lewis, Unison schools forum chair, said: “To receive almost 4,000 responses in

CYPWDN chair Dr Davida Hawkes said: “We are concerned that we have had fewer children than we would expect newly diagnosed in recent weeks in Wales...

“We think this may well be due to parents being worried about Covid and not approachin­g such a short period of time is remarkable and these voices must not be ignored.

“The safety of our communitie­s is paramount, as is instilling confidence amongst pupils, parents and the workforce.

“These results demonstrat­e that confidence is simply not there at the moment.”

Education Minister Kirsty Williams said schools would return on June 29 but she understand­s the concerns of school support staff as expressed in the unison healthcare services. But there is a bigger risk from untreated Type 1 diabetes in children and young people than from Covid infection.” ■ survey and will not put them at “unacceptab­le risk”.

A Welsh Government spokespers­on said: “We welcome the dedication shown by local authoritie­s, headteache­rs, teachers and school support staff across Wales who have responded positively to the announceme­nt, sharing the innovative ways they expect the four weeks to operate in their schools.”

 ??  ?? > Pupils in class at Queen’s Hill Primary School, Norfolk, All pupils are not due to return to school until at least September after the UK Government was forced to abandon plans to get all primary school children back in class before the summer break
> Pupils in class at Queen’s Hill Primary School, Norfolk, All pupils are not due to return to school until at least September after the UK Government was forced to abandon plans to get all primary school children back in class before the summer break

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