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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:
MostPeopleAreCunts · 27/11/2017 23:03

I'd be speaking to the head first thing in the morning, personally. That is shockingly negligent. Angry They need to do some urgent training of their staff.

IncyWincyGrownUp · 27/11/2017 23:04

Please suggest to the school that they look at the Breathe for Cameron charity page. It might give them a shock.

I hope the medication kicks in and eases things soon.

Sprinklestar · 27/11/2017 23:09

Not only terrible but negligent too!

Original poster
aawcmon · 27/11/2017 23:09

Really appreciate the support, I'll be contacting the school tomorrow. Just checked the school website, apparently I'm not allowed to contact the head initially, I have to go through the year head, does that sound right?

OP posts:
Littlechocola · 27/11/2017 23:11

You need to complain or it may happen again.
Your poor dd

IncyWincyGrownUp · 27/11/2017 23:13

The course of action would normally go teacher/tutor, then head of year, then SLT/head, then board of governors/ofsted if you’re still not satisfied that your concerns have been met.

Justaboy · 27/11/2017 23:18

I hope they havet fot somwhere "we can't administrer medicines 'cos we's teachers" policy in force. It does sound stupid but i wonder if they knew she was having an astma attack?.

I didn't realise it was one till somewone else told me in the docs waiting room long tale but makes me wonder?.

ozymandiusking · 27/11/2017 23:21

I do hope your daughter is feeling a little better now.
It could quite possibly be the very cold weather we are having at the moment. Tell her to wear a scarf and to cover her mouth, so the air is warmed before it goes into her lungs.
Maybe it would be a good idea to read the asthma site on the computer to refresh both your memories.

YouDancin · 27/11/2017 23:21

That is terrible. Made me scared for children at the school.

I suggest you print this article and take it into school
www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/mar/24/sam-linton-asthma-death

They ABSOLUTELY have to take asthma seriously.
Your DD should have had an adult with them
They should have phoned the doctor if 6 doses of ventolin had not worked
also phoned you WITH URGENCY
it is massive neglect and you need to kick up a shit-storm.
Glad she's okay now but this must not happen again!

YouDancin · 27/11/2017 23:22

Demand to see the Head teacher on a SAFEGUARDING issue!
That will get you an appointment.

TheFairyCaravan · 27/11/2017 23:30

Yes complain.

DS2 is a severe asthmatic. When he was at school they were actually really good. They made sure that all teachers were aware so that if he did have an attack anywhere in the school everyone could deal with it.

When he was at infant school they refused to take his inhaler out for sports and PE on the field. They said I was over reacting when I complained. Our consultant wrote to the school telling them they were putting his life at risk. They never left it behind again.

So many people underestimate the severity of asthma.

I hope your DD is feeling better soon. 💐

Ethylred · 27/11/2017 23:41

This is beyond negligence, it is cruelty.

BackforGood · 27/11/2017 23:42

they have all her care plan info as it was passed to them by primary school who also copied me in.

That's not good enough though. Secondary school is a very different scenario from Primary school. They should have a Care Plan for her written specifically with their school / staffing / size / resourcing in mind.

Agree with everyone else - you definitely need to flag this up with someone senior. I personally would go in and say you need to speak to someone urgently about a safeguarding matter - if not the HT, that will get you into Senior Management level. I would also look up some current facts and figures about children dying from asthma attacks. That really is shocking that no-one first aid trained was dealing with it.
I would also ask to see the paperwork, recording the incident.

MammaTJ · 27/11/2017 23:43

I am not posting this to frighten you OP, I think you are already frightened enough by the reality, but you need to show the school this, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1258705/Boy-11-dies-asthma-attack-left-die-school-corridor.html

I know the town I live in was devastated by the death of an 11 year old boy who HAD received all the correct treatment, in a timely manner, due to asthma! They should not be underestimating it's effects.

SlartyFarkBarstard · 27/11/2017 23:46

Ask to see their asthma policy, and their complaints procedure. YANBU this is awful.

cathcath2 · 27/11/2017 23:48

I work in a school and this should never have happened. The school have a duty of care to safeguard your child. She needs her individual health care plan reviewing (and updating if necessary). Schools have a statutory duty to review these at least annually:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/638267/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf
I'd also suggest they read this:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416468/emergency_inhalers_in_schools.pdf
Your daughter may not want you to rock the boat but you need to ensure she is safe. Hugs x

GlitterNails · 27/11/2017 23:48

That's beyond appalling.

It reminds me of when I was having an attack during PE and I asked to go and get my inhaler, and the teacher replied that asthma was all in the head.

Luckily my friend ran off and got it for me anyway secretly! It still makes me livid she could have said that to a child with serious consequences.

ObscuredbyFog · 27/11/2017 23:48

Can the hospital write a letter to the school detailing her condition on arrival and the seriousness of it.

Lots of schools erroneously believe that mothers exaggerate Sad Angry

alibobsy · 27/11/2017 23:53

This is terrible definately complain. As a lifelong asthmatic I know exactly how she felt, it is scary and you know you need to stay calm to help yourself, but it's tough when you have a attack.

Ditto the heart thing, I have had attacks and gone in hospital and been on that many steriods that it felt like my heart was jumping out of my chest.

Something slightly unrelated, but does she only take the blue ventolin inhaler?

My Doctor and the practice nurse are really hot on asthma (tbh the nurse is lovely and has asthma herself) and I was recently called in about my blue inhaler. Latest studies show regular use of ventolin actually irritate the lungs and may actually be counter productive. I have a number of drug I am on, but the ventolin is only to be used as an emergency drug or occasional boost and if I need to use the blue inhaler more than 4-5 times in a week they consider I need to see them.

I would say after that level of attack your daughter need to have a review of her medication-unless she already has another inhaler and the ventolin is just extra?

Just speaking from years of experience, many doctors, nurses and specialist etc etc. Been through lots of different drugs over the years tbh.

Definately agree about the scarf around the face thing for cold air, Asthma UK also recommend and were asking people to post "scarfies" I think with your best Asthma cover ups lol.

WhiteCaribou · 27/11/2017 23:53

The DfE produces a document called Supporting Children with Medical Conditions which lays out the school's duties with regard to having a specific policy (which should be accessible to all on their website) to cover how they will safeguard and support children with medical needs, staff training, individual healthcare plans etc. You can google it and read it before you go in to see the head or whoever, it should help to arm you with basic knowledge of what should be in place and give you ideas on what questions to ask to see whether they are sticking to the guidelines (although very obviously they are not in this case).

Seeingadistance · 27/11/2017 23:55

That is shocking! Yes, you must complain, and I think given the severity of the potential consequence of their failure to care for your DD that you should go to the HT or Senior Management Team.

They also showed a lack of care for your DD's friend. It can be traumatic to see someone having an asthma attack, and an 11 year old should not have been put in that position.

bunbunny · 27/11/2017 23:57

Another vote for contacting the headmaster - pretend you haven't seen the fact that you should go through the year heads.

If they start to say no, briskly point out that as you're ringing to point out about your dd's life being put at severe risk due to the indifference and ignorance of his staff yesterday, and that you're worried about the entire school's ability to safeguard her, it would be completely inappropriate to speak to anyone other than the head teacher, and see how they react. Maybe ask for the matron, head of safeguarding and head of year or tutor to be in the meeting as well, to show you are being serious.

A boy in the year below me died of an asthma attack when i was at school - and as others have said, it's still happening far too often in schools today, 30-40 years later. It's appalling that they had such a blase attitude to a pupil in their care.

You need to go in there and make sure they are aware of how badly they have screwed up (but without letting your dd hear quite how badly worried you are by their mismanagement of her illness - the last thing she needs to hear is quite how serious it is). I would also ask them for a risk assessment of what happens when somebody is having a severe asthma attack and is left in reception without adult supervision, when the attack continues to get more and more severe.

Flowers for your dd - hope she is feeling back to her normal self very soon and doesn't have another attack soon!

NoqontroI · 27/11/2017 23:58

They need training. Sounds like they don't have a clue. I would be very angry about that. Complain and make sure they tell you what procedures they will put in place if it happens again. I'm a severe asthmatic, and from experience they should have got medical help straight away.

alibobsy · 27/11/2017 23:59

Reread the OP and it sounds like you daughter is on other drugs and the ventolin is emergency only.

Might a spacer be useful if she doesn't have one? I find mind helpful if i am struggling to suck the drug right down into my lungs, gives you a chance to breath it in bit by bit.

Hope she is ok, when asthmatic winter is not your friend.