Nurses to expand sexual health services in rural Scotland

Nurses look set to be called on to deliver expanded sexual health services for schoolchildren in rural areas under latest Scottish Government plans.

Ministers backed plans last week to extend sexual health services for schoolchildren living in remote areas, after a report found some patients were having to travel outside of their health board area to access them.

RCN Scotland warned that extra resources and training would be needed to support nurses if they were to be expected to take on the task effectively.

'Any changes must be properly resourced, and appropriate training and development must be provided,' said Theresa Fyffe, RCN Scotland director. 'There must also be enough staff in place to enable nurses to deliver services in a way that will make a real impact.'

Data released last week, by Information Statistics Division, showed that 281 children aged under 16 contracted a sexually transmitted infection in Scotland in 2007.