Public Health Nurses

What we offer

Schooling is important and children learn best when they are healthy. Public health nurses can help children, their families, whanau and teachers with:

• heath assessments as requested by parent/care giver
• health information
• assistance with health concerns
• delivery of immunisation programmes in schools
• links/referrals to other health professionals
• access to specialist child health services
• self referral clinics in some schools
• child advocacy and protection.

The public health nurse can help if you have any concerns about your child’s health and development such as:

• allergies
• asthma
• mental illness
• wetting
• soiling
• head lice
• scabies
• school sores
• nutrition
• speech
• hygiene
• skin rashes
• turns or fits
• puberty
• hearing
• eyesight.

Hours of service

8am - 4.30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays)

How to contact us

Your public health nurse can be contacted through the school office or:

Town	Telephone Number
Cambridge	(07) 871 5999
Coromandel	(07) 866 8729
Hamilton	(07) 838 3565
Huntly	(07) 828 8220
Matamata	(07) 888 8732
Morrinsville	(07) 889 5335
Ngaruawahia	(07) 824 8646
Paeroa	(07) 862 7051
Putaruru	(07) 883 7220
Taumarunui	(07) 896 0020
Te Awamutu	(07) 871 5999
Te Kuiti	(07) 878 6077
Thames	(07) 868 3804
Tokoroa	(07) 886 7239
Waihi	(07) 865 9652
Whangamata	(07) 865 9652
Whitianga	(07) 867 1274

Visiting requirements (for our safety)

Please:

• restrain and secure dogs
• do not smoke during  our visits
• advise us if there are any hazards that may be around your home or workplace.

Partners in care

Public health nurses supports schools to deliver the Health & Physical Education curriculum by assisting and resourcing schools in planning health programmes through:

• providing advice and information on health related matters
• linking schools with other agencies and encouraging schools to share ideas and resources
• recommending appropriate professional development providers when required
• co-facilitating some teaching sessions with the classroom teacher when the public health nurse is part of a wider programme, e.g. as a guest speaker and resource in a particular health related area
• assisting and supporting health promotion activities.

Most schools have a designated public health nurse who visits on a regular basis. School staff, parents/whanau refer children with health concerns to the public health nurse.

Public health nurses are required to work in accordance with the Privacy Act 1993 and Section 125 of the Health Act.