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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Really angry, say something or over reacting?

245 replies

aawcmon · 27/11/2017 22:34

My DD has just started high school and is loving it so far. She has asthma which is well managed, but she always carries her blue inhaler just in case of emergencies. Today, she had a really bad attack for the 1st time in years. I got a phone call from school office saying can you come and collect your daughter, she's feeling a bit breathless. I arrive at school within 20 mins and was shocked to see the state she was in. She was struggling for breath and was crying. She didn't have any adults sitting with her, only her friend from class. Reception staff couldn't have been less interested if they'd tried, I received no background info to what could have triggered the attack. DD had taken her blue inhaler multiple times, but it did not help.... DD was in such a state, I phoned doctor's office who advised me to take her to A&E straight away. We ended up being in hospital most of the day on nebulisers, steroids, x-rays, and she will need on going checks this week as her lung capacity is still not ideal. I am so angry with the school, it was obvious just by looking at her that she was in distress and to leave her by herself, she was panicking and exacerbating the issue. Should I bring this up with school or leave it (DD doesn't want me to do anything as she's scared teachers won't like her as much if I complain)

OP posts:
MyKingdomForBrie · 27/11/2017 22:36

Complain very loudly! That’s utterly shocking, asthma can be fatal, what on earth were they thinking. You need to complain so that their policy is brought out of the dark ages.

Chilver · 27/11/2017 22:37

Absolutely bring it up!! And remind them that people die of asthma!!!

Perhaps don't go in all guns blazing but instead talk to them about updating their staff's knowledge of how to recognise and respond to asthma attacks - so in a collaborative 'did you know' way (whilst highlighting how serious it was in your daughter's case today!)

Butterymuffin · 27/11/2017 22:37

I would bring it up, yes. She's at the lower end of their age range and severe asthma attacks can be fatal. It's possible that the office staff don't know that, and have the impression asthma is just superficial wheezing, in which case they need extra training.

kateclarke · 27/11/2017 22:39

Def bring it up. Get the school nurse involved. She needs an asthma care plan, and all staff trained and aware of it.

MrMeSeeks · 27/11/2017 22:41

Yes complain!

MrsAJ27 · 27/11/2017 22:43

Definitely complain!

RandomMess · 27/11/2017 22:44

Don't have asthma in my family and I know how dangerous it can be! What on earth were they thinking Angry

Starlighter · 27/11/2017 22:44

OMFG! Too shocked to find actual articulate useful words... fucking irresponsible stupid cruel idiots!! Complain. With bells on.

Hope your DD is ok Flowers

user1471426611 · 27/11/2017 22:45

I would raise this with the school for definite. I'm a teacher and asthmatic and have had attacks in school over the years
Im never left alone to recover, there is always a first aider with me even if i'm managing the attack with no problems.

SleepingStandingUp · 27/11/2017 22:45

Yes. You were lucky but it could have been worse
Fancy leaving an 11 yo in that state uunderthr supervision of an 11 yo

Lupinhere37 · 27/11/2017 22:46

Definitely complain. Whereas we can't expect school staff to deliver actual medical treatment , they should be able to recognise the obvious signs that a pupil is struggling to breathe. I would ask them to agree a plan with you, should this happen again. There should already be a plan though, as she won't be the only asthmatic in the school!
Asthma is a common problem unfortunately and there should be designated staff within the school who know how to respond appropriately to medical emergencies.
How frightening for your DD. I hope she feels better soon.

ItsAHardKn0ckLife1 · 27/11/2017 22:46

Dear me, yes please complain!! How awful for your daughter SadFlowers

DJBaggySmalls · 27/11/2017 22:46

That was so irresponsible. Not only were they negligent, but they left another child to cope with her asthma attack. She should have been taken to hospital. I hope she's OK now.

Original poster
aawcmon · 27/11/2017 22:46

Thanks everyone. Ironically, they have all her care plan info as it was passed to them by primary school who also copied me in. Shocked that they can leave an obviously ill and distressed child by herself, my poor baby.

OP posts:
BenLui · 27/11/2017 22:46

I hope your DD is feeling better now.

I’d be asking to see their risk assessments and standard operating procedures for dealing with asthma attacks.

Where was the school first aider?

LoniceraJaponica · 27/11/2017 22:48

Definitely complain. DD's school doesn't have a sick room and I have been called to school a few times to pick her up, and she was just left sat in reception.

They need to have it drummed into them just how dangerous asthma is. A boy from DD's school died this summer from an asthma attack.

GreenTulips · 27/11/2017 22:48

Similar thing happened to DS today - he text to say he'd forgotten his inhaler said I rang the office staff to find out if he needed it or just forgotten it

They rang his class so he had to walk to the office, alone, to collect and use his inhaler! I'll be on the phone tomorrow

scotchpie · 27/11/2017 22:48

Please complain, this could of been fatal.

Hope your dd feels better soon.

AlexanderHamilton · 27/11/2017 22:50

That is shocking. an ambulance should have been called if the inhaler wasn't working & she was getting worse.

People die of asthma.

Original poster
aawcmon · 27/11/2017 22:52

No first aider that I saw, no school nurse, not a teacher in sight, nothing. Just a "sign this book to say you've collected her", that seriously was it. She's ok now, got a fright and docs struggled to get her heart rate down which I'm told Is a side effect from the steroids. Lung capacity was about half normal level when she went in, the great NHS staff got that up a bit to a more respectable 2/3 which is still not ideal, but better.

OP posts:
Nightmanagerfan · 27/11/2017 22:53

Why didn’t they call 999? I am asthmatic and am always advised to do so if having an attack that isn’t managed, so I would have thought more so for a child! Asthma UK are excellent and give amazing advice for schools. Call their helpline maybe before speaking to school as they may give you some good info to back up your complaint. Their website very sadly features stories of people who’ve died and the school would be as well to be reminded of how serious a condition asthma is. Makes me v angry to hear that on your daughter’s behalf.

mouseistrapped · 27/11/2017 22:53

Absolutely complain that's terrible

Explain to your daughter it's the bigger picture and you need to "educate the educators" (!) to stop a a possible death from happening . Asthma must not be taken lightly. Do ensure
You CC the governors so it doesn't get swept under the carpet. I wonder if they are also epi pen trained??

Original poster
aawcmon · 27/11/2017 22:57

I think it was their attitude which really got me the most, they couldn't have cared less. Nightmanagerfan, I totally agree, they should have been phoning me to tell me they'd called an ambulance, not a faffy uninterested phone call with no urgency at all. Getting mad again just thinking about it.

OP posts:
RoseWhiteTips · 27/11/2017 22:59

Definitely complain.

Busybusybust · 27/11/2017 22:59

You must complain. Remind them how many people die from asthma attacks each year, and the majority of them are under 16. Their neglect definitely endangered her life.

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