ONE in three school support staff are giving medical help to children without adequate training, a GMB survey revealed today.

For those who had received training, a third said it had not been delivered by a healthcare professional, the survey of nearly 10,000 workers found.

Just one in 10 of those were aware of having medical support in their job description and three in four support staff said that they did not have a nurse in their school to support pupils’ medical needs.

Procedures performed by those without adequate training includes catheterisation, rectal medication, tracheostomy care, tube (PEG) feeding, assistance with colostomy bags, refilling oxygen tanks, stoma care, support with seizures and line safety.

GMB national officer Stacey Booth said: “Thousands of school support staff are giving medical support to pupils when it is not their responsibility and without adequate training.

“It’s a terribly distressing situation for children, parents and staff.

“We must have an NHS trained nurse in all state schools, to support workers and let them concentrate on educating our children to be safe in the knowledge that all pupil’s needs will be met.

“Clinical tasks must be carried out by NHS staff ensuring the best heathcare provision for all children.”

A report warning that the average English school nurse now cares for more than 4,000 pupils was officially launched at the House of Lords last October.

The Forgotten Frontline report was based on findings from the charity Saphna’s inaugural survey of school nurses and their teams across Britain.