Epipens in childcare setting

[hereagainat3am]

After some advice please. I've recently asked my GP to give us a repeat prescription of epipens for my daughter's nut allergy. I asked for 3 lots of 2; 1 set for home (ours is about to expire), 1 set for nursery, and 1 set for the childminder who does the wraparound care.

The GP has said he is only allowed to prescribe 2 epipens, and she will have to ensure that the epipens get collected and dropped off at each setting. It is not always me doing the drop offs and collections- the childminder will be doing some too, and I can just foresee the epipens getting left somewhere by accident. My daughter is 3, it's not like I can tell her to keep them safe in her bag and make sure she remembers them. Neither would leaving them in her nursery bag be advisable as they would be within reach of her and her younger brother (and who knows who else at nursery/childminder).

Does anyone have any experience of this or know where these rules are stating only 2 epipens per person? TIA

I think it's because the expiry dates, it can get quite expensive to replace so many.

Can you get a private prescription for the extra one and pay for it yourself?

I can, and will if I have to, but surely the cost should not prevent a potentially life saving drug from being prescribed? It would cost the NHS a hell of a lot more if she had an anaphylactic reaction and required ambulance transport and treatment in hospital..

It's normal to get 4 so the child can keep 2 in school and have 2 at home. 6 is a bit excessive though, they'll go out of date and then you'll be wanting another 6 to replace them. There are often shortages with them so it's not ideal for one family to be getting so many when they'll most likely not even be used.

Think you will just need to put the 2 home ones in the bag that goes to the childminder. It's not really any different to popping them into her bag if you're heading out for the day or sending her to grandparents etc.

2 is standard on the NHS unfortunately. My daughter is old enough to carry hers with her at all times now and we have one at home. We were also told if we wanted more, we’d need to get a private prescription. I understand they are quite expensive.

@confusedlots

It's normal to get 4 so the child can keep 2 in school and have 2 at home. 6 is a bit excessive though, they'll go out of date and then you'll be wanting another 6 to replace them. There are often shortages with them so it's not ideal for one family to be getting so many when they'll most likely not even be used.

Think you will just need to put the 2 home ones in the bag that goes to the childminder. It's not really any different to popping them into her bag if you're heading out for the day or sending her to grandparents etc.

Ok, I didn't appreciate there was a shortage. The GP is standing firm at prescribing only 2 though, so looks like I'll have to pay privately for some to be kept at nursery

I got around a very similar situation by ordering another prescription a couple of months down the line. 2 pens are not enough for young children who are in school/after school clubs or with childminders/grandparents etc.
It only takes one person to forget the bag with the pens in and then you have none for at home.
Your GP doesn't have a note of the expiry dates on the pens

I work with some children who have emergency medication. They just have a little bumbag that is worn when out of the house. It stays on them all the time unless swimming, playing sport and when that happens the care giver wears it. Maybe that would work?

We used to have 2 at home and 2 in a school setting ! X

I usually have 4 (2 that stay with DS and 2 that stay in school) and doctors have always been happy with this.

However I was told me the same thing that he can only prescribe 2, but to put in another prescription in a month or so if I need more.

6 is excessive though! Just put the two you have for home, in her bag for the childminders.

@Hairobsessed123

We used to have 2 at home and 2 in a school setting ! X

NHS advice is to prescribe two. They are £100 a pop, and go out of date quickly, plus there have been shortages, as PP mentioned.

This is the MHRA (medicines regulator) advice:

MHRA/CHM advice: Adrenaline auto-injectors: updated advice after European review (August 2017)

Following a European review of all adrenaline auto-injectors approved in the EU, the MHRA recommend that 2 adrenaline auto-injectors are prescribed, which patients should carry at all times. This is particularly important for patients with allergic asthma, who are at increased risk of a severe anaphylactic reaction. Patients with allergies and their carers should be trained to use the particular auto-injector they have been prescribed and encouraged to practise using a trainer device. Patients are advised to check the expiry date of the adrenaline auto-injectors and obtain replacements before they expire

@GrettaGreen

I work with some children who have emergency medication. They just have a little bumbag that is worn when out of the house. It stays on them all the time unless swimming, playing sport and when that happens the care giver wears it. Maybe that would work?

I don't think giving a 3 year old a bumbag with adrenaline injectors in is particularly wise! Not my 3 year old anyway!

Ha! That's definitely true 😂 I didn't spot she was 3 sorry!

DD's consultant wrote a letter to her GP requesting 4 epipens. DD has one at school; one at breakfast/after school club and two at home (one of which is in her sports bag). For over a year we couldn't get any and were told to just hang onto the out of date ones. They're now at my mum's house (200+ miles away) in case we ever visit and forget them.

At preschool age we just had two epipens - one at home and one at nursery.