Public health nurses support schools to deliver the Health & Physical Education curriculum by assisting and resourcing schools in planning health programmes through:
- providing advice and information on health related matters
- linking schools with other agencies and encouraging schools to share ideas and resources
- recommending appropriate professional development providers when required
- co-facilitating some teaching sessions with the classroom teacher when the public health nurse is part of a wider programme, e.g. as a guest speaker and resource in a particular health related area
- assisting and supporting health promotion activities.
Most schools have a designated public health nurse who visits on a regular basis.
Description
Schooling is important and children learn best when they are healthy. Public health nurses can help children, their families, whanau and teachers with:
- heath assessments as requested by parent/care giver
- health information
- assistance with health concerns
- delivery of immunisation programmes in schools
- links/referrals to other health professionals
- access to specialist child health services
- self referral clinics in some schools
- child advocacy and protection.
The public health nurse can help if you have any concerns about your child’s health and development such as:
- allergies
- asthma
- mental illness
- wetting
- soiling
- head lice
- scabies
- school sores
- nutrition
- speech
- hygiene
- skin rashes
- turns or fits
- puberty
- hearing
- eyesight.
Public health nurses are required to work in accordance with the Privacy Act 1993 and Section 125 of the Health Act.
Contact information
8am - 4.30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays)
Your public health nurse can be contacted through the school office or:
- Coromandel (07) 866 8729
- Hamilton (07) 838 3565
- Huntly (07) 828 8220
- Morrinsville (07) 838 3565
889 5335 - Paeroa (07) 862 7051
- Putaruru (07) 883 7220
- Taumarunui (07) 896 0020
- Te Awamutu (07) 871 5999
- Te Kuiti (07) 878 6077
- Thames (07) 868 0044
- Tokoroa (07) 886 7239
- Waihi (07) 865 9652
- Whangamata (07) 865 9652
- Whitianga (07) 867 1274
Referral information
Referrals to the public health nurses are usually through GPs/family doctors, other health professionals, social agencies or school staff.