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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think school should have rung me?

161 replies

Quandary2018 · 27/09/2018 23:30

Turn up to after school club tonight at half 5 to be told DS10 has had an accident at lunch time and his arm has been put in a sling
He’d fallen awkwardly on it playing football and had told them the pain was a 9 out of 10.
He’d been asked if he could have calpol, he said he could, but wasn’t given any.
A teaching assistant had to sit with him all afternoon because he couldn’t hold a pencil to write because of the pain.
No one rang me, I was at work but had my mobile on my desk and the school have my office number too.
I would’ve come and picked him up early had I known. Instead he was at school, in pain, all afternoon.
I took him to a&e straight from school because of how much pain he was in and he has fractured his wrist.
I cant work out why they didn’t call me

OP posts:

CoraPirbright · 28/09/2018 18:11

Well done - you sound like you were very measured and got all your points across well. I am bloody well sure they ‘apologised profusely’. It’s outrageous!

youarenotkiddingme · 28/09/2018 18:15

Well done - good job done. By asking questions and raising examples of what could be done better people engage and reflect. Going in yelling just causes people to shut down and be defensive.

And I'm sure they all care about the children or they wouldn't be in the job. They'll feel guilty for not noting a fracture and having a child in pain all afternoon with an injury - that alone will make them sit up and think.

HolesinTheSoles · 28/09/2018 18:19

Well done OP. I couldn't believe it when I read your first post. The fact that DS couldn't write and needed a dedicated member of staff and the fact they felt the need to put it in a sling was obviously enough for a parent to be called immediately.

I'm glad they're reviewing their policy and will be more cautious in the future (hopefully with all kids not just DS)!

Rinoachicken · 28/09/2018 18:30

My DS broke his collarbone at school last year. I was called straight away to collect and they advised A&E, which we did. I did wonder why they hadn’t put him in a sling (they suspected dislocated shoulder or similar) but they said they tend to go with the idea that if it’s bad enough for a sling it’s bad enough to need A&E, which I actually thing is a good policy to have. Also there is the possibility of incorrect sling position if there is a break, which could make things worse.

Really shocked you weren’t called simply because he wasn’t making enough of a fuss for the first aider - reaction to pain varies MASSIVELY person to person, injury to injury, if there’s shock, any SEN, etc and is also entirely open to interpretation. My primary school nurse was a dragon, I reckon even if you leg was missing she’d probably have told you to stop crying and get on with it!!

FoxFoxSierra · 28/09/2018 19:49

This is the third thread I've read tonight that's reminded me how good my DC's school is! My dd fell over and knocked a (wobbly) tooth out in the playground. She was fine, it was obviously going to fall out anyway in the next few days but the school rang me to let me know and let me decide whether I wanted to collect her early or not, no way would they ignore something like this. I am going to make sure I let them know how much I appreciate them having read the threads on here.

Op you are a lot calmer than me, I would have gone in all guns blazing on this. I'm glad they have apologised and are changing their policies and that your ds is recovering well.

Happygummibear · 28/09/2018 19:59

For info regarding the sling. I received first aid training last year. Refresh after 3 years and it's now part of training not to use slings as you may mis treat the patient and cause more injury.

You can use the sling to bind the arm to the body to stop movement if necessary but not in the hanging style of old.

Poodletip · 28/09/2018 20:07

OMG I'd be steaming! In the school where I work, we always err on the side of caution when it comes to injuries. We have a lot of staff first aid trained but that doesn't mean we can judge if something is broken. This would definitely have had a call home. I can't get my head around the idea it was bad enough for a sling but not for a call home!

ShesABelter · 28/09/2018 20:14

This happened to my dd when she was at brownie camp and it was a fractured wrist. They decided it wasn't broke cause she could move it. Doctor said that is the most common misconception. So I understand your anger!

Alwa · 28/09/2018 20:19

I work in a school and you need to report it.

Would be a HUGE issue at my school

Nightwatch999 · 28/09/2018 20:22

Oh OP the school should of took him straight to A&E and rang you straight away. Poor little lad. I would be raging if this was me.

moredoll · 28/09/2018 20:25

When I broke my wrist they gave me morphine for the pain.
This is utterly disgraceful and unacceptable. Fuck "Don't go in all guns blazing". It's time for nuclear.
The first aider who manipulated a broken wrist needs to be removed from her position. Write to the head teacher copying in the chair of governors.
Frankly I'd be talking to a solicitor about compensation.

YearOfYouRemember · 28/09/2018 20:32

What did the hospital say about the delay in him getting there?

batshitbetty · 28/09/2018 21:28

This is utterly disgraceful and unacceptable. Fuck "Don't go in all guns blazing". It's time for nuclear.
The first aider who manipulated a broken wrist needs to be removed from her position. Write to the head teacher copying in the chair of governors.
Frankly I'd be talking to a solicitor about compensation.

Eurgh, sometimes mistakes are made - surely talking it through rationally and establishing how to stop similar issues happening in future is a far better approach for everyone. Everything written above just makes you that parent, who is hell bent on pointless retribution rather than solving the issue. IMHO it should be illegal to try and claim compensation for something like this, it's not like he lost his arm is it?! But yeah, quick take the opportunity to profit 🤔

moredoll · 28/09/2018 21:32

It's not about the opportunity to profit.
It's about compensation because an incompetent and inadequate person was filling the legally required post of first aider. This person is a danger to other children.

Josiebloggs · 28/09/2018 22:05

I don't think solicitors or compensation claims are the way forward but I do think rather than a word with the head something needs to be put in writing and this need to be followed up. The sling, the not calling parent, allowing a child to sit when they have clearly stated they are in a great deal of pain, the allowing to go to after school club. Every single one of this is a massive failure on the schools part and a simple oops sorry would not be enough to convince me that my child would be safe in the event they needed urgent care.

Nomorecakes · 28/09/2018 22:20

Yes I would be angry. It seems our schools must have similar policies,
My DD was at the school nursery yesterday and when I collected her she had a purple egg on her forehead. They told me she had been sitting on a chair and had fallen off straight onto the table. They said she was inconsolable and kept holding her breath etc but they couldn’t contact me because the phone line was down!!! Eh?

Ginxed · 28/09/2018 22:31

Given your update I think you need to take this further. He said pain was 9out of 10 and couldn’t hold a pencil yet they didn’t think this warranted a call or a&e trip.

You should ask how policy will be changed, and also ask to aee the report that will need to be submitted to the local authority as a hospital visit was required as a result of the injury. If you aren’t happy with the response, do write to the chair of governors.

Nondescriptname · 28/09/2018 23:22

Definitely get a complaint in, in writing , and ask in what way is their policy being changed.
These people are a menace to the children in their care.

MulticolourMophead · 28/09/2018 23:35

OP, I agree that this does need to be followed up in writing with the school, to prevent any quiet sweeping under the carpet.

An initial email, that summarises the contents of the discussions you had, would be a good way to start, including the point that a sling and somebody to do the writing suggest a serious injury. You can include some of the points and requests suggested by posters here, such as asking to see an amended policy, etc.

You can copy to chair of governors, but you don't have to be demanding. Just a measured email laying everything out should be enough to make the point.

Gersemi · 29/09/2018 00:18

IMHO it should be illegal to try and claim compensation for something like this, it's not like he lost his arm is it

What a ridiculous thing to say. A child has been left unnecessarily in pain over a long period with an untreated fracture. Not only that, but some idiot first aider has been pulling and pushing the arm and wrist around and has put on a sling which is clearly insufficient protection from stray knocks and pushes. Obviously we hope that they have not caused permanent damage, but if they haven't it is clearly not for want of trying.

If your child were left with permanent damage to his arm through sheer carelessness of this nature, batshitbetty, would you really be prepared to suck it up and shrug your shoulders - even if it affects his employment prospects and earning power, his ability to enjoy various activities, even, in future years, his ability to hold his children? Do you think that if you refused to take legal action you would be doing your child any favours?

SummerStrong · 29/09/2018 00:37

I agree that you should follow up in writing, and ask for feedback on how the policy has been reviewed / improved. And copy in the chair if governors.

Jeanclaudejackety · 29/09/2018 00:45

This happened to my niece, in Yr 3 she fell off playground jungle gym thing and broke her elbow, it needed surgery. No one told my auntie until she came to collect her niece was grey and hadnt eaten any dinner coz of pain, apparently the teacher told her it would be OK in a while and to just get on with her work to take her mind off it?!

Honestly I know schools have to deal with a lot of shit but they actually treat kids like outright liars and shysters half the time!

fieryginger · 29/09/2018 01:15

Yes, I'd complain. I'd complain in writing to the head.

Coyoacan · 29/09/2018 04:35

My mother suffered a terrible accident in the school chemistry labs in the 1930s. It was terribly handled by the school and my grandfather sued and won. The school learnt how to avoid those types of accidents and to give proper first aid from then on.

Suing has its purposes.

Doyley47 · 29/09/2018 17:31

How old is he. They seriously asked HIM if he could have Calpol??

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