HIQA to undertake overview of school health services in selected countries
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has commenced a descriptive overview of school health service models across ten international jurisdictions. This work has been requested by the Department of Health to support its consideration of the development of Ireland’s School Health Programme.
The work will examine how school health services are organised, including how they are funded, staffed and governed. The review will consider a range of school health service models, including services delivered by healthcare professionals within schools or in collaboration with schools and education providers. It will examine services such as physical health screening, dental care, mental health support, health promotion, vaccination, and the management of chronic conditions.
In Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE) school health programme operates in primary and post-primary settings. Children in public, private, and homeschool education are eligible to receive school health services delivered by public health nursing, dental, and vaccination services, aligned with the National Healthy Childhood Programme.
Commenting on the work, HIQA’s Deputy Director of Health Technology Assessment, Michelle O’Neill said:
“School health services play an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of children and young people. Understanding how these services are organised and delivered in other countries can provide valuable insights into different approaches and how they operate in practice.
The findings of this work will help inform the consideration of the development of Ireland’s School Health Programme, supporting evidence-informed decisions about how health services can best meet the needs of school-aged children.”
The work will involve a targeted review of publicly available research, government policies and service frameworks. An expert advisory group, with representatives from health, education, academia and parent groups, will provide guidance throughout the process.
The final report is expected to be published in 2027.
ENDS
Notes:
- HIQA has today published the following document:
- The overview is being undertaken at the request of the Department of Health to inform its consideration of Ireland’s School Health Programme.
- Following recommendations from the World Health Organization on the critical role of school-based health services, the project will examine models across ten jurisdictions: England, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, Wales, and Philadelphia in the United States of America. Included jurisdictions were identified as relevant based on factors such as geographical proximity, population size, the organization of health services, the availability of publicly accessible information, and the potential relevance of identified school health service models to the Irish context.
- The overview is descriptive in nature and will examine school health service models in selected countries and jurisdictions. It will not evaluate the effectiveness of individual programmes.
- School health services can include health promotion, screening, vaccination, dental care, mental health support and the management of chronic conditions among school-aged children.
About HIQA
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent body that promotes safety and quality in the provision of health and social care services in Ireland.
HIQA works to enable the best possible health and social care outcomes for all through standard setting, monitoring and regulating services and providing evidence to inform decision-making.