During his visit to Ballymena the Health Minister heard about the enhanced health visiting service within the Causeway Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). Pictured are, back row, Joanne Campbell, Suzanne Pullins, Mike Nesbitt, Bridgeen McMullan, Fiona Stewart, Tracey Elliott, Sonia Glendinning, front row, Susan Gault, Ashleigh Topping, baby Luke and Tracey Kerr.
The role played by health visitors and school nurses in protecting health and wellbeing has been showcased to the Health Minister during a visit to Ballymena.
Mike Nesbitt was welcomed to Slemish College where he met with staff from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and the school principal.
During the visit, he heard directly from a local mum who shared her experiences of the enhanced health visiting service within the Causeway Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), and there was an opportunity to encourage young people to protect themselves from illness through the flu vaccination programme.
Martina Connor, a nurse with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, who was at Slemish College to provide the flu vaccine to pupils is pictured with Adam Dempsey and Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt.
Susan Gault, Head of Public Health Nursing in the Trust, said:
“We were very pleased to have this opportunity to meet with the Health Minister to highlight the role of our health visitors and school nurses and the vital work they do within the community.
“Our MDT approach to health visiting has been a huge success and it was very useful to hear this first hand from one of our service users.
“Collectively, our staff work together to give every baby the best start in life and our health visitors are committed to supporting the wellbeing of mums and babies through prevention and early intervention.
“We have developed fantastic partnerships with the voluntary and community sectors, as well as church groups, education provider and local councils which reflect the MDT ethos as well.”
During his time at the school, the Health Minister also met with the school nursing team as they administered the flu vaccine to pupils.
Nurse Martina Connor discusses the flu vaccination with Slemish College pupil Adam Dempsey as the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, looks on.
Commenting afterwards, he said:
“I was delighted to be able to meet both health visitors and school nurses during my visit to Ballymena, and I welcomed the opportunity to engage with them and listen to their experiences.
“Health visitors have a key role in identifying and addressing health needs within our communities, and in ensuring that every child has the best possible start in life.
“School nurses have an equally vital role in promoting the health and wellbeing of the school-aged population and building on the solid foundations laid down in early years. Vaccinations save lives and school nurses play a pivotal role in promotion and uptake.”
Susan Gault added:
“Across the Northern Trust, our school nursing teams provide a range of health and wellbeing advice and services to young people.
“Our teams are very busy at this time delivering vaccinations to schools with all primary and secondary school children, up to and including year 12, eligible to receive the vaccine.
“Having the Minister in attendance at one of our clinics helps us to emphasise how important it is that all those who can receive the vaccine should come forward.
“Vaccinations protect you, and they also protect those around you, which is particularly important for those who might be more at risk to the potential effects of a respiratory illness.
“We’re very grateful for the support of our local schools who work with us to protect our young people and I would encourage them, and their parents or carers, to recognise the importance of vaccination.”