The announcement of the State Government’s Doctors in Secondary Schools Program has raised a number of concerns about exactly how the program will run, according to Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.

The Government this morning announced Bairnsdale and Maffra Secondary Colleges and Swifts Creek P-12 School will be included in the Doctors in Secondary Schools Program, however Mr Bull said that due to a lack of detail, some parents had raised legitimate queries.

“Philosophically it’s a good idea, however there are as yet unanswered questions over just how the program will work,” Mr Bull said.

“Parents have raised concerns that children as young as 12 may be able to access medical advice and treatment at school, including things like prescriptions for the contraceptive pill,” he said.

“The Government has failed to clarify whether parents will be able to provide consent – or even have knowledge – that their children will be accessing a doctor whilst at school. 

“It is also unclear if the decision to have a doctor attending schools will have input from the school leadership and the parent associations.

“Whilst I have great confidence in our schools and medical practitioners to make common-sense decisions around such topics, it is clear that all parents state-wide fully understand the details on how this program will work. As a parent, I want to know.

“The program is set to roll out from term one next year and I would hope that the detail on the program that is presently missing is relayed on to schools and parents in the very near future,” Mr Bull said.

Thursday, September 1, 2016