Hospital—school liaison: perspectives of health and education professionals supporting children with renal transplants

Abstract

This article explores collaboration between health and education staff as a key aspect of educational provision for children with chronic medical conditions, drawing upon material from interviews with eight health professionals (paediatric nephrologists and specialist renal nurses) and 11 mainstream schoolteachers involved in the care and schooling of children with renal transplants. Notwithstanding the apparent existence of good practice, a complex interplay of attitudinal, institutional and wider political and economic factors is identified that is likely to undermine the effectiveness of collaboration between health and education professionals. The importance of hospital-school liaison -that is, of a proactive, preventative and hence systematic and strategic nature -is highlighted. Such findings have a particular relevance for policy and practice in the context of the current Every Child Matters agenda, and are likely to have wider applicability to the education of chronically-ill children at large.

Collaboration between paediatric surgery and other medical specialties in Nigeria

“…Inter-specialty collaboration seems to be a major factor to many advances made in medicine in the developed countries. [3] For a specialty relatively new in Nigeria, paediatric surgery needs profound amounts of collaboration with other specialties in order to achieve good outcomes. This survey has shown that collaboration is presently desirable but inadequate between paediatric surgery and other specialties in Nigeria.…”

Psychosocial support for children and families requiring renal replacement therapy

“…Although educational support on hospital haemodialysis is mandated in many countries, it was only available in 10 of the 14 European units surveyed [31]. In our own unit we endeavour to maintain a close liaison with school, whether the child is on haemodialysis, CPD or post-transplant [51]. One of the teachers attends clinic to liaise with families and extra educational support has been provided during summer holidays.…”

Mothers of Children with Special Health Care Needs: Documenting the Experience of Their Children’s Care in the School Setting

“…There is evidence that there are factors that make any collaboration between educational and health care systems difficult (Poursanidou, Garner, & Watson, 2008). There is a lack of understanding on the part of both health care providers and educators regarding the other’s roles and responsibilities regarding CSHCN.…”