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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To expect my child's school to apply prescribed ointment

44 replies

SweetPeaSoup · 13/05/2015 16:02

when I have followed procedure by filling out the form, and given them the cream in its original container (which clearly states that it needs to be applied three times a day).

I apply it at breakfast time and bed time, and am asking them to put it onto my DC at lunchtime, otherwise there will be a gap of only 3hrs between two of the doses. The school are refusing because the pharmacist's label doesn't state the exact times at which the cream must be given - which is funny, because neither did the label on the antibiotics my DC had recently, and yet they had no problem then.

I'm getting the stark impression that there's a power thing going on, and it's driving me insane - aibu, or shall I argue the toss?

OP posts:

RosaGertrudeJekyll · 13/05/2015 16:32

Nromanoff so some DC finish at 4 and bedtime at 7? Bonkers.

I would expect them to help, because they are helping to keep the dc healthy and well, or fight infection, esp with anti B's.

Draconian measures brought in to force dc to school but they cannot administer medicine.

Sirzy · 13/05/2015 16:37

DS has a medicine that is 3 times a day at school, but they made an exception to the rule (after discussion with school nurse) because it can't be taken at the same time as one of his other meds so it became in effect 4 times a day - it's also a long term thing not a short term.

BitOutOfPractice · 13/05/2015 16:44

But if they put it on at lunchtime, that means the first thing and lunchtime applications would be just as close together as doing a hometime and bedtime application so it's swings and roundabouts.

OP most schools are VERY cagey about any first aid or medical stuff that includes touching. Safeguarding and all that.

It's not personal. It's a bit irritating but it's not the school being awkward for the sake of it

Sleepyhoglet · 13/05/2015 16:48

You are being unreasonable. I work in a school and we won't administer medicine or sun cream. If a parent wants it done at a given time then we invite them in to do so.

NRomanoff · 13/05/2015 16:51

I would expect them to help, because they are helping to keep the dc healthy and well, or fight infection, esp with anti B's.

Draconian measures brought in to force dc to school but they cannot administer medicine.

No schools in this area finish at 4pm. All around 3.30. I don't think its an issue and certainly not a reason to keep them off. They can administer medicine but won't unless they have to for obvious reasons.

Goldmandra · 13/05/2015 16:56

I would not be able to administer to my dc at midnight they would be asleep

It really isn't difficult to rouse children enough to give them a dose of ABs then tuck them in again. They just don't remember it the next morning.

You don't even need to wake them up to apply a bit of cream.

Starlightbright1 · 13/05/2015 17:08

My DS wouldn't administer any medication or creams unless regular medication.

I do the same as others with anti biotics, wake DS up when I go to bed to give him last dose. I have also applied vics to feet when he has had a cough.

captainfarrell · 13/05/2015 17:24

Can child not apply it under adult's supervision? Schools are not allowed to apply cream to children. They have to protect themselves. If it needs applying at lunchtime, can you or a family member come to the school and do it?

captainfarrell · 13/05/2015 17:26

As for power. Really? Schools have bigger fish to fry.

SoonToBeSix · 13/05/2015 17:28

For goodness sake you are being ridiculous just apply the cream when you go to bed.

Original poster

SweetPeaSoup · 13/05/2015 17:30

captain this doesn't apply to my doc's school, but have you read some of the lunchbox threads that turn up on occasion? Some schools definitely don't care what size fish they're frying.

Anyway, once again, thanks everyone - I just wanted to know whether iwbu, and Mumsnet has spoken!

OP posts:

Original poster

SweetPeaSoup · 13/05/2015 17:32

soon for goodness sake, I was asking whether I was being unreasonable, not whether I was being ridiculous - but thanks for that, I hope it made you feel better.

OP posts:

LaLyra · 13/05/2015 17:43

As much as safeguarding it's also about time. Who should administer medicines or apply creams? Most schools don't have a nurse who is onsite daily, teachers don't have time, TAs don't either, so most of the time it falls to office staff (ime one of them tends to be the first aider too - they deal with first aid for children as a help, they are actually the work first aider for the staff in most cases). If you have a big school then you could end up with the staff member dealing with 20 or more children every day with various ailments (that's before the ones who get sent to see them because they don't feel well or fall over). 1) That is a huge chunk of their day taken up and 2) I wouldn't want the responsibility for correctly medicating 20+ kids a day so we shouldn't expect them to want it either!

SoonToBeSix · 13/05/2015 17:57

Ok unreasonable then not ridiculous sorry I didn't mean it as harshly as it looks written down.

Original poster

SweetPeaSoup · 13/05/2015 18:07

That's okay - if you being soon-to-be-six is the same as me being soon-to-be-five, we may be suffering from similar stress levels

OP posts:

sadwidow28 · 13/05/2015 18:29

Sweetpea please don't take it as a personal slight on you or your DC.

Because of safe-guarding issues, touching a child (rubbing) even on a non-intimate area is to be avoided. (Feet are a particular no-go area even though you might consider feet to be non-intimate.)

Exceptions can be made if the child needs 4 applications - but then it would need two members of staff present. One would act as the chaperone.

Giving a child antibiotics is more a supervisory role. That's popping out a capsule, encouraging child to put into own mouth and handing a drink to wash down - and checking that it has been swallowed. Then sending child off to play whilst member of staff fills in the Drug Administration Record.

Where this situation appears to have gone wrong is that the staff didn't explain the refusal carefully and truthfully to you. Some staff don't like to raise the 'intimate contact' issue with parents, but they should discuss openly and honestly that they are following Safe-Guarding procedures. I am sure you would have understood and accepted the proper explanation as an intelligent parent.

You can manage 3 applications a day yourself and that is the most appropriate way for your child to receive this ointment.

HTH

Original poster

SweetPeaSoup · 13/05/2015 19:08

sad that makes a lot more sense than the message I got back from the school - thank you!

OP posts:

GobbyAbby · 13/05/2015 19:08

I don't understand why he can't apply it himself?I would have thought any school aged child could do that?

LarrytheCucumber · 13/05/2015 19:39

Assuming that it needs to be put somewhere he can't reach e.g. his back, I can see why you might ask the school, but the people who administer medication are usually the First Aiders, often TAs and applying ointment would be an optional duty, not a requirement like treating a cut or graze.

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