Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Laura Paterson

Medical screening urged for staff and pupils at two 'blue water' schools

A teaching union is calling for medical screening to be brought in at two Scottish schools where blue water sparked health concerns.

An independent review of the found no link between the campus and illness.

Both schools are built on a former landfill site.

The review was carried out after parents and teachers had reported blue water coming from shared campus taps and raised fears of links between possible chemical exposure and illness among workers and pupils.

Fears were raised over 'blue water' at both schools earlier this year (Stuart Vance/Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser)

Now, teaching union the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) wants medical screening at the schools for staff and pupils who request it.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: "It is essential that North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire work to rebuild trust with the school community, including the pupils and staff at Buchanan and St Ambrose high schools.

"The EIS calls upon the Site Recovery Group, established following the independent review, to move forward and facilitate medical screening for all pupils and staff who wish it in these two schools."

The call comes a day after a public health professor published a report questioning the level of evidence gathering in the review.

"The EIS has noted the concerns expressed in the analysis published yesterday by Professor Andrew Watterson of the University of Stirling, over the methodology adopted by the independent review group, " Mr Flanagan added.

"It is, therefore, even more important that these screening tests should be undertaken to allay fears."

He continued: "Medical screening can be undertaken fairly cheaply and could provide long-overdue reassurance to pupils and staff within these two schools, as well as identifying any possible issues which may require further medical investigation."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.