School nurses in Perth and Kinross walked out on their jobs after getting extra responsibilities as part of a trial Scottish Government shake-up.
The pilot scheme was introduced at schools across the region as part of a wider move to revamp the role of health workers in primaries and secondaries.
Under the strategy, nurses will take on responsibilities which have until now been carried out by social workers and mental health specialists.
They will be asked to concentrate on nine “priority areas” including children’s mental health and wellbeing, substance misuse, domestic abuse and the potential for them becoming homeless.
In Perth and Kinross, 16 NHS Tayside nurses and three managers – everyone who was eligible – took part in the experiment. The trial was also carried out in Dumfries and Galloway.
A written evaluation of the trial has revealed that a quarter of nurses – four – resigned or retired in Perth and Kinross.
The report stated: “The method of working proposed by the refocused role was very different from much of the work undertaken by school nurses prior to the early adoption and not all staff would necessarily wish to work in this manner.
“The result was that several staff resigned or were reassigned out of the School Nurse Team. It was particularly stressful for staff in Perth and Kinross as they endeavoured to cover the immunisation schedule, as well as working according to the refocused school nursing role.”
Researchers found “the high level of anxiety such a change can engender meant that staff support was a major concern.”
One member of Tayside staff quoted in the report said: “We’ve had, in our service anyway, two retirals, and two resignations.
“Because the school nurse model just wasn’t something that some of our staff wanted to take on. So that’s caused quite a significant challenge in capacity.”
However, the Scottish Government has pledged to push ahead with the overhaul.
Local MSP Murdo Fraser said the revamped role was a “big ask” for nurses. “The caseload involved in this new role was clearly not working and it is important that this is refocused,” he said.
“If the Scottish Government is serious about improving mental health in young people then they will need to commit extra resources rather than asking existing staff to fill in the gaps.”
Mr Fraser added: “School nurses are hugely important and the loss of knowledge following the resignation and retiral of several nurses in Perth and Kinross is concerning and I would hope that the Scottish Government supports schools in the area to ensure that there is adequate school nursing provision.”
The report identified several issues with the new system, saying that many nurses did not feel equipped to deal with the number of children coming forward with mental health issues.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “School nurses are valued members of the nursing workforce and we remain committed to their vital contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of children, young people and families.
“These pioneering pilots showed that a targeted school nursing role added value to the service through maximising their contribution and effectiveness, by providing additional support to young people.
“We will now work with NHS boards to support them rolling out this refocused role.”
No one from NHS Tayside connected with the scheme was available for comment.
