title: Instant messaging: The way to improve access for young people to their school nurse.
abstract: Children and young people require ease of access to their school nurse. Alongside this, school nurses are charged with the need to work smarter, being cost-effective and timely in response. School nursing teams across the country provide access through text messaging, however, there is presently no access provided to young people to have a consultation as a web-based chat facility. Using digital media, Doncaster school nurses have worked closely with young people to redesign and launch a totally interactive web- based clinic facility. This allows for improved access, reduction in travel costs and consultations to take place outside of the traditional times for accessing school nurses. This paper discusses a pilot project around the establishment of an e-clinic connecting young people and school nurses. It outlines the journey towards providing this innovative service in an attempt to provide cost-effective, timely services while reducing the barriers for service users.
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schuller
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thaker
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012572:School Health Services; D012573:School Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D013222:State Medicine; D060145:Text Messaging; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult