MEDICS BACK REOPENING OF SCHOOLS
DOCTORS and nurses working in the Welsh NHS claim the decision to reopen schools full-time in September should be “greeted with optimism”.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams announced on Thursday that schools in Wales are being given the option to open either on September 1 or September 14.
But Ms Williams admitted that only limited social distancing would be possible as children will be in “contact groups” of around 30.
She added that every school will be provided with a supply of home testing kits in case people develop symptoms.
The Welsh Government is also providing an extra £29m to schools to recruit 600 teachers and 300 teaching assistants to help pupils whose education has been hardest hit by the lockdown.
Dr Farbod Babolhavaeji, a consultant in emergency medicine at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW), Cardiff, said the announcement has been largely welcomed by NHS staff.
He said his paediatric colleagues have been broadly supportive of the plans, too.
“I think overall the Welsh Government’s plan to fully open Welsh schools in September with extra support should be greeted with optimism,” he said.
“We know that children are far less vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus, so the risks to them are minimal.
“Schools have worked hard over this lockdown period to mitigate as much as possible the spread from pupil to pupil as well as pupil to teachers.”
Dr Babolhavaeji said, while education is vitally important to children, the social interactions and relationships built at a young age are just as crucial.
“It also cannot be understated the important work that teachers do in terms of child protection, public health and mental health advocacy,” he added.
“For many vulnerable and at-risk children school provides respite from difficult or chaotic family lives and provides teachers a chance to identify families in need of extra support.”
He added that any school’s policy will have to be in “constant review” as the situation with the epidemic may change significantly in the autumn months.
“The Welsh Government will have to be proactive as well as reactive,” he concluded.
“The disease burden of autumn and winter always stretches NHS services anyway, but Covid-19 will only add to this. All we can do is hope for the best while preparing for the worst.”
Dr David Tuthill, officer for Wales at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), said more than 2,500 of its members
signed an open letter two weeks ago calling on the UK’s governments to publish plans to reopen schools more fully.
“Paediatricians welcome the announcement from Education Minister Kirsty Williams that we have a plan for getting children back to school in Wales,” he said.
“We were pleased that most children were able to have some contact time in schools this term, but it is really important now that schools, teachers and parents are able to plan for September.
“We also welcome the funding made available to ‘recruit, recover and raise standards’. We hope this will form part of a broader recovery plan for children and young people.”
He said there was “improving” evidence around Covid-19 which shows that children are less susceptible to Covid-19 than adults and almost never get severely ill.
“The evidence from many countries around the world is that transmission in schools is low,” he added.
“Teachers do so much more than teach and schools provide so much more than education. It is a vital point of contact for public health services, safeguarding and access to mental health support that help children get the best start in life.
“The longer schools close, the more children miss out. We’re particularly concerned at the inequalities that will result because the impact of Covid-19 is borne by children and families who have the fewest resources and need the most support.
“It’s important now that we see the ‘Test, Trace, Protect’ programme working effectively with schools to give parents, teachers and children the confidence they need – especially if we do have a second wave.”
Similarly, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Wales says reopening schools fully will help children’s emotional wellbeing.
Nicky Hughes, RCN Wales associate director of nursing (employment relations), said: “We have been hearing that the Covid-19 lockdown has had a detrimental effect on the mental health of our children and young people as routines have been lost and they have been isolated from their peers.
“School nurses have essential roles that contribute to the physical health and emotional wellbeing of school-aged children and young people, their families and the wider community.
“Allowing pupils to return to the structure of the classroom will go some way to bringing about the return of normality. Furthermore, this positive step will help to reduce the stress of those nurses who have had to juggle childcare arrangements and nursing responsibilities.
“However, there will be nurses who have concerns about the safety of their children, particularly those with health issues, and the sustainability of this situation should a second wave of Covid-19 hit. The appropriate risk assessments must be in place to limit the spread of Covid-19.”