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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU, school letter

133 replies

Giddypants · 07/09/2017 17:11

AIBU to not pay a £50 (which I can't afford) GP letter that says my child has food allergies?
DS2 started reception on Tuesday, school have said they can't give any lunch except a baked potato until I have filled in the school dinners form which asks about food intolerances, allergies, or sensitivity.
On the front of the letter it asks for proof of allergies from his GP.
I have rang the GP for a letter, which he informed me he would have to charge me £50 for said letter.
DS has a nut especially peanut allergy and has a small reaction to tuna.
The school has a no nut policy anyway.
He doesn't like tuna and won't entertain it, so there is quite minimal risk that he would come into contact with any allergens.
I understand why the school need to be informed, but why isn't my word good enough? after all I've told the GP what he is allergic too and they have in record from what I have told them.

OP posts:
Olympiathequeen · 07/09/2017 18:30

noproblem
So a child who eats a certain food and comes out in hives can't be allergic to that food just because parents are the only people to have witnessed it?

Not everything requires testing you know.

QuitMoaning · 07/09/2017 18:31

@HiJenny35 My son does this. He tells everyone he is allergic to mushrooms when he really isn't. He hates them which is fine but stop being such a drama! He is 19 and should stop this as it annoys me. He has no allergies at all.

OhTheRoses · 07/09/2017 18:31

Confirm to the school in writing and explain the GP will charge £50 for a confirmation letter which you are happy to provide if the school will reimburse the £50 which you will have receipted. Enclose also copy of ENT letter. Look forward to hearing from you 're the GP letter and in the meantime I expect all staff to observe my instructions.

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 07/09/2017 18:38

I'm so pleased you're going to push for proper testing OP

Peanutbutterrules · 07/09/2017 18:39

We had this - I copied all of DD's medical records and took them instead. Informed school that if that wasn't good enough then I'd pay the money to get a GP letter (similar amount to yours), but that I wouldn't then be giving to the Governors Fund - basically I'd take it out of other money I'd give the school.

They were then happy with the medical files.

NoProblemForMe · 07/09/2017 18:40

Not everything requires testing you know.

Not everyone tells the truth or, if they do, they can sometimes exaggerate or misrepresent symptoms. It just seems a bit of a hit and miss way for a GP to diagnose something they've never actually seen that's all.

Olympiathequeen · 07/09/2017 18:42

OP. Could you get the GP to prescribe an antihistamine and send that into school.

At our school we choose the lunch daily and if you do something similar just pick something without fish and there won't be a problem. If he reacts with hives to something unknown they can at least give the antihistamine which has been prescribed. Worth trying.

My GP took our word DD has an allergy to peanuts (also hives) and said we only need Piriton unless she starts to have more severe reactions when he will look at an epipen

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 07/09/2017 18:43

Olympiathequeen allergy testing can confirm known allergens (giving a 'score' about how likely the person is to react to a given substance) but it's also often important to check for common co-occurring allergies. My son reacted to cashews. We saw it with our own eyes. Through testing we also know he's allergic to some other nuts (but not all - he can have hazelnuts). We saw him have a reaction to dog hair - tests confirmed this but showed he wasn't allergic to cats.

Catsize · 07/09/2017 18:43

Think of the money you'll save in packed lunches and pay the £50.

Catsize · 07/09/2017 18:44

And assuming you're in the UK, the meals are free for reception kids!

Olympiathequeen · 07/09/2017 18:47

noproblem. Are you calling the OP a liar then?

What she has said has been accepted as truthful by the GP. The issue is not whether her DS has an allergy just the cost of the letter and the schools insistence he has an official letter. How difficult can it be just to avoid fish when most schools have a daily menu for the parent to fill out?

WaxyBean · 07/09/2017 18:50

Do you not have anything from the consultant he is under confirming a diagnosis? We see DS1s consultant for food allergies annually and he writes a letter to the GP following this. We get a copy then photocopy for the school (both for school dinner company which he doesn't have except at Xmas, and for the school office).

WaxyBean · 07/09/2017 18:50

And for info - not all schools allow parents to choose meals. Ours doesn't. The child chooses on the day.

Olympiathequeen · 07/09/2017 18:52

If you have to pay £50 for a letter I would push for testing and refuse to accept no for an answer.

At least you will have something for your money!

NoProblemForMe · 07/09/2017 18:54

Are you calling the OP a liar then?

Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing

NetRunner · 07/09/2017 19:00

I would really see your GP asap. The consultant we saw for DS's nut allergy told us that although his first reaction had been fairly mild (half a nut eaten resulting in tingling lips, pain in throat and stomach and covered head to toe in hives), the next contact would be likely to give a more severe reaction and the same ongoing. The reactions can apparently start mild and get significantly worse with each contact event. We went to GP, described reaction, got referred for testing and prescribed epipens without hesitation by the hospital who made clear the severity of the situation. Our schools have never asked for proof but I can understand why some schools do. He really needs to have antihistamines and an epipen with him at all times and I think that, regardless of anything else, you need to go back to GP and request a referral. I can't believe the GP has been so cavalier about it. These things are life-threatening.

youarenotkiddingme · 07/09/2017 19:09

Send a k the form recorded delivery to the office with a copy of the ent letter.

(Btw did you know there's a link between allergies and glue ear as it often atopic linked).

Attach a covering letter saying that your ds has reacted to peanuts and Tuna before and has required chlorphenamine (that the antihistamine in puriton) so resolve it.
State you are going to make a GP appointment to discuss this but in the meantime they can feel free to request a written letter from the GP (name and surgery) at a cost of £50 and if they ignore the information you have provided so far then any reaction he has will be considered a breach of safeguarding on their part.
Tell them to contact the school nurse to arrange a care plan etc.

I agree with the above poster I really doubt they'll give him tuna and peanuts to test it - they'd be bloody pig headed and stupid to!

catkind · 07/09/2017 19:44

The problem isn't that they're going to feed him the things he's allergic to, the problem is they're going to feed him on a diet of plain baked potatoes until they are satisfied with the information provided. Which is understandable given how bad an understanding many people have of allergies. Something from a doctor ought to be more precise - for example you said you've seen reactions to peanuts and tuna. Does the doctor recommend avoiding all nuts and all fish, or just those specific types?

Tricky one. Maybe give the school a call and explain the situation and see what they recommend?

Raindancer411 · 07/09/2017 20:04

I feel for you, my son came up with a reaction at weaning and took until 2 and half years old before they would say, yes he has an allergy. I have just started my own thread as having a problem getting antihistamines from doc as they do not so these on prescription now, and the school want meds with a label from pharmacy with name and dose on...

imjusthereforasec · 07/09/2017 20:21

My son has a nut allergy, I think it's wise for you to be referrers for proper testing, but allergies can increase with exposure so whilst they may not need a pen now in the future they will, I carry a letter from the dr at all times and use it on flights etc where they don't allow nuts to be served. At the moment you cannot say for certain which nuts (tree or legume) your child is allergic to so I think the letter isn't the problem, you need the testing done and the results which won't cost £50!!

Peanutbutterrules · 07/09/2017 20:31

Peanut allergy can be tricky - I'm another saying get tested. You'll need to know if other legumes are an issue too (peas, lentils, etc). Don't wait for a serious reaction before getting tests. They aren't perfect, but they might show up other allergens before you, and your DS, find out the hard way!

lazyarse123 · 07/09/2017 20:34

It's not enough that the school have a no nuts policy. I used to work In a school kitchen and quite a lot of products have "hidden" ingredients.

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 07/09/2017 20:41

OP the school has a legal requirement to have proof of any child's allergies and with this they need to make an individual care plan for your child, trey cannot do this care plan without a diagnosis, which tbf is common sense, and a legal requirement for the school, in case of a reaction, if the doctors charge £50 for this letter then you need to take this up with the doctor, however I cannot see a doctor providing this letter without testing or seeing the child become symptomatic.

Ds2 has acute anaphylactic allergies, his school have a 6 month review of his care plans and also how to administer emergency treatment for him, I really don't understand why you think the school is BU tbh, your issue is with the GP, the school has a duty of care of your child, and his medical needs are priority however they cannot administer antihistamines without a care plan!

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 07/09/2017 20:52

Also this...

Today 17:21 idontwannaneedthem

Unless your child dying of an allergic reaction is worth more to you than £50, than YABU

Send him in with his own lunch, until you can save for the letter.

rightnowimpissed · 08/09/2017 15:15

You should tell the school to request the information from the GP if they don't believe you.

Speak to them tell them they want to charge you and you cant afford it, they will just let it drop then I bet.Smile