To think this situation with the school medical room is ridiculous?

[QueenofQuirkiness]

Hi, my DD2 is 12 and she has to take medication numerous times per day. Her medication is kept in a locked cupboard in the school medical room - this I have no problem with as the school nurse has always been very good at making sure DD took it.
However, what I do think is a problem is that DD has told me that she has had to wait outside the medical room on multiple occasions, because the room is too full....
She explained this by saying that lots of people just go to the medical room because they are bored and know that the nurse is a bit of a soft touch and will let them stay there. They sleep on the beds or sit on the chairs and according to DD sometimes the office is too crowded to get in! Of course, some of these children could be genuinely unwell, but DD says that people always go just to skip lessons and they will boast about doing so or mention to people that 'I don't really want to do (lesson), so I will go to the nurse'
AIBU to think this is a bad situation and would it be reasonable for me to phone in to complain as DD has to have medication on a regular schedule and sometimes is unable to get to it at the proper time.

[ShesGotLionsInHerHeart]

I see what you mean, but there must be actual ill kids in there sometimes too who deserve their privacy.

Perhaps the school needs to rethink her access to the medication.

[WorraLiberty]

How long does she have to wait to get her medication and is the waiting time detrimental to her health?

[DinoSnores]

As someone who works with young people with chronic diseases, I can definitely see how waiting might end up with her being more and more reluctant to take her medication as she hits more awkward and less patient teenage years.

If it is something like insulin, for example, the 'easier' solution for her will just be not to bother at school so she can eat at the same time as her mates, rather than spending 15 minutes hanging around for the nurse.

Keeping her engaged in her treatment is so important and it does sound like there are issues for her, so I would be asking if there are things that could be changed about how her medication is stored or dispensed.

[AyeAmarok]

Does all this queuing several times a day not mean she misses loads of lesson time?

If so, I think they need a work around.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

What medication is it?

(not name obviously as that's private but is it tablet, syrup, injection etc)

is it something that can just be left in the office or in her bag to avoid missing lessons. seems stupid to have to queue akd waste time.just to swallow a pill.

[HighwayDragon1]

We give our kids 10 minutes in medical room and generally send them on

[Katenka]

Dds school has a policy of 30 mins in the medical bay to see what's wrong. If you are still too ill to go to class, your parents are told to come and collect you.

Dd said hardly anyone is in there.

I would imagine if parents knew what these kids were doing and had to go get them, it would stop or at least reduce.

[0christmastree5]

Must be a nice nurse if dc flock there misses the point. sorry nothing useful to add.

[BertrandRussell]

Can she not keep her medication with her? I would have thought at 12 that would be all right, surely?

[Osolea]

If you have reason to be concerned that your dd not getting her medication on time is going to be detrimental to her health, then you need to complain.

If it's just a case of your dd having to wait for five minutes while the staff are dealing with someone else and it's no more than an inconvenience to your dd, then YABU.

What you describe is pretty normal in my experience, an entire school full of children aren't going to stop trying it on with the school nurse just so your dd doesn't have to wait a few minutes for her medication. The nurse has as much responsibility to the other children as she does your dd, and on many of the occasions, they are likely to be genuine.

[cansu]

Knowing who is actually sick is v v difficult. I am sure nurse has her own methods for working it out. Your dd is simply repeating playground boasting and gossip. She is also exaggerating probably plus sick bay is generally v small space. Unless your dd health is being jeopardise d by waiting you should probably get over it.

[Sirzy]

You wouldn't be unreasonable to check with the school if she is able to access the medication at the correct times. At 12 is she able to self administer it?

[QueenofQuirkiness]

She needs medication in tablet form, and the policy at school is that any medication must be given by the nurse. She says the longest time she has had to wait is 20 minutes, and her health is affected the longer she has to wait. She has her tablets twice in school, one of which is at lunch, however the other time can mean she is queuing for quite a while.
But I am considering just giving her her own tablets to take herself, because it is important that she is taking them on time. I personally think she is old enough and responsible enough, but I am just acting in accordance with school policy.
DD has also told me that some kids stay in the medical room for hours and one girl managed to spend an entire school day sleeping on the sick bed. Which in my opinion is quite ridiculous, as DD says this girl regularly feigns illness just to skive lessons.

[QueenofQuirkiness]

I will definitely be checking that my DD isn't exaggerating as I am a bit and at some of the things she's telling me, but she has a genuine medical need to be there.

[Jessbow]

before you give them to your daughter, be absolutely certain that they would not be detrimental to anyone else whose hands they fell into. if the school have a policy you really do need to stick to it.
Presumably if this is long term medication, there could be an exception put in place for your daughter to bypass the queue. There cannot be that many that would need the same special allowance.

[NewLife4Me]

I think the only thing to do is concentrate on your dd and not bother about other children, and for your dd to concentrate on her medicine and not other children.
The important thing is your child's medication and this is what you should discuss with the school, and if 20 mins makes a huge difference then the school should be informed of the delay in her receiving this.

What else happens in the medical room is immaterial and the schools job to assess.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I would be seriously considering letting her keep them in her bag. 20 mins of queuing must mean she barely gets time to eat lunch. and it's an unnecessary waste of lesson rime for her for something that takes seconds to do.

plus as harsh as this sounds not sure having people who are well bit just require medication in the sake room as someone who's been sent there for throwing up in class or something. unnecessary risk of her catching a nasty stomach bug

[Twinklestein]

There was never anyone in our medical bay at school.

The odd girl with a migraine, that's it.

If the school can't organise a sensible nurse who isn't susceptible to malingerers that's their problem. Your daughter's old enough to manage her medication, no doubt she'd be better at it than the nurse.

[APlaceOnTheCouch]

I'd be inclined to think the nurse can identify who is ill better than your DD. I know when I've collected DS from the nurse, the room can be busy but actually all the DCs have a valid reason for being there. A 12-yr-old might not be aware of all the reasons and tbh she has no right to that information. It's also not unknown for DCs to 'brag' about tricking a nurse rather than admit they have some kind of health issue that they don't want broadcast round the school.

Perhaps keep a diary of how often your DD's medication is late and then approach the school and ask if they have any suggestions on how this can be avoided. But don't cast aspersions on the professionalism of the nurse or the health of the other DCs: one is unfounded and the other none of your business.

[Sirzy]

Why others are there is nothing to do with your or your daughter. Certainly check she is able to access her medication at the agreed times but beyond that it's nobody else's business what's going on with other chicken

[Sirzy]

Or even children!

[EponasWildDaughter]

before you give them to your daughter [in her bag], be absolutely certain that they would not be detrimental to anyone else whose hands they fell into.

this

if 20 mins makes a huge difference then the school should be informed of the delay in her receiving this.

and this.

[colleysmill]

I think it will depend on the medication to be honest.

Do you have a medical team supporting you and dd? I have found that sometimes a meeting with a health professional and the school can help negotiate and compromise on strict medication policies (especially if it is detrimental to the child's health and not detrimental to other pupils if they took it and the child/teenager is responsible enough to take them correctly)

[Youarentkiddingme]

Well if your DD is waiting 20 minutes for medication then she is missing her downtime or lesson time. Both of which have as much affect on her as not having her medication on time. There are stringent rules around 2 people admisuntering, checking medication etc and it being signed so I'm sure there is no easy solution but I would certainly be asking why your DD is spending 1.5 hours a week sometimes waiting for medication.

A solution may be that you out pill inside the package in a pill box daily and sign a piece of paper. The nurse then checks and signs the pills on arrival. Then pill box to given to DD when she turns up and she signs to say she's had it.

[SlinkyVagabond]

For students with regular medication times at our school, everyone else is moved out, sign on door, to ensure privacy. If they are really ill, waiting to be picked up or injured, they are moved somewhere else for the designated time. No discussion, no arguments. Malingerers (what a word!) get ten mins then off back to class.