At the very end of summer term my 11 year old daughter went on a school trip for 2 nights/3 days.
She came home obviously very ill, with a fever and a badly infected elbow. We had to take her straight to a&e where she was admitted for 6 days of iv antibiotics (plus then tablet antibiotics for a few days once discharged) and was given a diagnosis of cellulitis and lymphangitis. The cellulitis was very severe looking (very red with a large ‘crater’). There was even talk of her having to have surgery but fortunately the surgeon she saw decided it wasn’t necessary.
During this school trip she complained twice, to two different teachers of a painful arm, once on the first evening and once at lunchtime on the third day.
The teacher she told on the first day had a look at her arm and as there was nothing obvious there told her to put a wet towel on it. However, on the third day she asked the other teacher for a plaster for her arm as it was hurting but her arm wasn’t even looked at and she was told there was no plasters available.
I picked her up from the school trip late afternoon/evening and spoke to the first teacher (who was in charge of the trip) to say thank you. This teacher mentioned nothing to me about her problems with her arm during the trip. It was only when we got home and saw it ourselves we realised how badly infected it was.
I had been in touch initially with the teacher in change of the trip to find out exactly what happened and how she came home so ill. He was going to find out if the other teacher had looked at her arm on the third day but I never heard back from him about that particular question.
Once autumn term started I left it a couple of weeks then got in touch with the head teacher to discuss what had happened and that I hadn’t had an answer regarding whether her arm was looked at on the third day, and also to complain that I wasn’t told
anything at pick up. She said she’d find out but I didn’t hear anything.
I saw the head on an unrelated issue at the beginning of last month, and mentioned that I still hadn’t had the answers I was waiting for and that I was really unhappy, disappointed and obviously very upset by the whole thing. I was asked if I wanted to make a formal complaint which I said I didn’t, I just wanted answers and a reassurance this wouldn’t happen again.
The head told me she still hadn’t spoken to the other teacher which I don’t actually believe. She’d had weeks to speak to her at this point.
Anyway, weeks later and I’ve still heard nothing. Im not sure what to do now? I can obviously get in touch with the head again but I’ve asked these questions 3 times already.
The schools policy on informal complaints is to respond within 10 days. I’ve been waiting weeks now. Has anyone else been in a similar situation or have any advice on moving this forward. I’d still rather avoid a formal complaint as I’m not sure if it’s justified in this case. Any advice gratefully received. Thank you