Summer Schemes Canceled: Special Schools' Nurse Shortage

0:00From across Europe, powered by AI, this is Europe News Today. Summer schemes at special schools in Northern Ireland have been canceled this year. The education authority made the call purely on safety grounds, pointing to the Department of Health's decision to pull nursing support. The authority has been months trying to work this out with health officials, stressing the need for onsite nurses to handle kids with complex, medical needs. Without that cover, they say running the schemes just isn't safe. Parents and children are understandably upset as these programs offer vital summer activities and support. The authority knows it's heartbreaking and regrets the impact on families who are counting on them. Health services face real pressures and the authority gets that, but the lack of year-round nurse provision and special schools has been building for. A while, summer brings even bigger risks with fewer staff around. Those plan to keep pushing for permanent nurse-led service across the region to protect these kids long-term, putting their welfare first every step of the way.