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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School refusing to give antibiotics

539 replies

Slayerofmyth · 21/04/2021 18:14

My daughter has warts on her arm that have become infected. She has been prescribed antibiotics four times a day in liquid form that have to be kept in fridge. She has one dose upon wakening but needs 2 more doses throughout school day. I work so can't get to school to give it, theres no one else. School are refusing to give it, I've said I'll keep her off then so I can administer ( taking time off work,), they say I'll get a fine for absence. What the heck am I supposed to do? Please advise.

OP posts:
Nacknick · 22/04/2021 12:52

Oh sympathy OP, fluclox is a nightmare to take at the best of times - 4 times a day on an empty stomach ffs. I would speak to the GP and see if there is another option that can be taken twice a day - there must be another option.

Flowers
3totheright4totheleft · 22/04/2021 13:32

@Blueberrymuffin40 you are having a laugh right? Get someone else to go into school twice a day for 10 days! What planet are you on? This reminds me of when I couldn't make the phonics meeting in Reception (10.30 on a Weds morning). Teacher suggested I send my childminder, like she didnt gave any other kids to look after!

MixedUpFiles · 22/04/2021 14:06

I’m not in the UK so I don’t understand the legality behind this at all. How can a school refuse to give prescribed medication? It is a clear cut case of medical discrimination. The school is required to educate the student, even if the student isn’t perfectly healthy and requires adjustments or adjustments. Is that not true there?

Warmduscher · 22/04/2021 14:18

@Slayerofmyth

08:38Warmduscher

"It’s such a shame the OP didn’t immediately think, when handed the prescription by the GP and being told it had to be given four times a day - wait a minute, how will that work when she’s in school? If she’d asked at the time of the appointment, she could at least have said to the school that she’d already asked the GP and had been told there was no other way to give the medication. That would have shown she has realised there could be a problem and she has tried to find a solution.

Suggesting to the school that if they don’t administer the medication (as they are not obliged to do) the child will be placed in the care of her grandmother with dementia for ten days and implying that’s the fault of the school, weakens your argument that the school are the unreasonable ones."

I didn't for one minute think it would be an issue.... Thanks though, for your totally unnecessary comments. 😁

You’re welcome Grin
Maryann1975 · 22/04/2021 14:21

Always makes me laugh when I read people suggesting to get a childminder to do stuff like this! I’m sat here with a baby asleep on my knee, another one in the buggy by my foot that I’ve rocked to sleep, one asleep in the cot upstairs and another who is about asleep on the sofa! Yep, childminders up and down the country are all waiting with baited breath to be able to go in to school to administer medication! We don’t have anything else to do or other children to think about.

Maryann1975 · 22/04/2021 14:24

Also, I think the school are being completely unreasonable in not giving antibiotics. The child is not contagious and should not be missing any more education. Parents have moved heaven and earth over the past 12 months and for many their work has suffered. I can’t see why it’s a problem for someone to spend 5 minutes giving a prescribed medication to a child.

Warmduscher · 22/04/2021 14:27

Warts aren’t especially contagious but they can be passed on through skin contact - hence why children with verrucas can’t go swimming unless their verrucas are covered up.

LadyDanburysCane · 22/04/2021 14:31

How long is the child in school? Our school day for a 10 yo is 8.45 to 15.00 - 6.5 hours. My children at 10 slept for at least 9 hours (even I manage 7-8 hours on a school night). So OP is unwilling for her child to go the length of the school day without medication but happy for her to go the whole night (the longer period) - so much for evenly spacing the medication.

On the few occasions either of my DC needed medication during term time I always asked for three times a day a dosage when at the surgery and this was never denied.

spanieleyes · 22/04/2021 14:37

Of course 5 minutes isn't a problem- although some have explained that , because of paperwork/it systems it can take twice as long and needs two people at a time. But presumably some schools have more than 1 child needing medication at a time, perhaps 5 or maybe more. So what should be a simple 5 minute job becomes a 50 minute job for 2 people. This, together with the risks and possible reluctance of staff, means that some schools have decided parents need to be responsible and not them.

Sbk28 · 22/04/2021 16:09

[quote Restlessinthenorth]@Sbk28 yes. I am basing it on the OP's situation. Never said anything otherwise. She shouldn't have to call and fight for this. Should have been taken seriously first time. If a member of staff rang the OP with a concern about her child, would it be ok for them to have to call her a number of times before she took action? Of course not.

Routine meds are par for the course with primary aged children. If schools can't facilitate this in order to keep otherwise well children in the classroom then they seriously aren't fit for purpose [/quote]
What do you say the purpose of a school is?

wanderbug · 22/04/2021 17:23

My school would give one dose of antibiotics but not two. We can only follow the instructions on the prescription label - and giving 2 doses during the school day wouldn't meet the requirements for even spacing.

Two TA's giving 2 doses per school day means that each will be leaving their 1:1 child unsupported for up to 20 minutes a day.

We have children who will run out of class and into other classrooms - not ideal when every class is currently a separate bubble. Some of our 'runners' are also climbers and/or love to press every switch and button they can find (including fire alarms!).

Others are prone to meltdowns when left alone - which can mean the rest of the class needing to be evacuated when the child starts turning over the furniture and throwing chairs. With no TA in the room, that leaves the teacher needing to simultaneously supervise the evacuated children as well as ensuring the child still inside the classroom isn't hurting themselves.

Others have medical needs that need to be closely monitored. Not all seizures are obvious enough for a teacher to spot from across the room, and the teachers aren't usually diabetes-trained either.

It's far more complex than just 'taking a minute to pour a spoon of medicine'.

Iamuhtredsonofuhtred · 22/04/2021 17:34

Well I think your child’s school is being utterly ridiculous. Single parent and prescribed medication, I’d be raging if I was you. My DD had the same antibiotic prescribed for a finger abscess recently; school have her one dose an hour before lunch. If they’d suggested I come in to do it I would have thought they’d lost their minds. I’m also a single parent and NHS worker, not everyone can leave their job at the drop of a hat!

iwannafurloughmydp · 22/04/2021 17:35

Schools must have a medicine administrator trained for this - I am -
If the school policy says that they can’t there’s good reasons for that.
Sorry :(

petelacey · 22/04/2021 17:37

Tell her doctor the problem. Get the warts treated differently. Unfortunately teachers and schools are damned when they do and damned when they don't. So parents caused the problems you are now facing.

Rtruth · 22/04/2021 17:37

I think you need to have another conversation with the school.

Getskinnyordietrying · 22/04/2021 17:41

Get it in writing from the school they they are unable to administer medication for whatever reason. Keep her off and if you receive a fine you it will be dropped instantly. In my opinion threats of fines are used too quickly and most of the time nothing comes of it

Localocal · 22/04/2021 18:01

Two things: Call your GP, explain the school's policy and your situation, and ask them for a twice-a-day antibiotic, as GP poster suggests.

If that doesn't work, and if your daughter is responsible and can swallow tablets, I would ask for the medication in tablet form and give it to your daughter to take independently. If the school catch yo it will become a big thing and they will have to deal with their ridiculous policy. It depends how sensible your daughter is, but if she is a steady and conscientious sort that's what I would do.

Expecting you to take off work to do something that any responsible adult can do is outrageous.

tommyhoundmum · 22/04/2021 18:02

Might the district nurse help?

If you live near me I'd do it. SW4

Itgetsthehoseagain · 22/04/2021 18:14

Haven't read thread, but surely one in morning, one at hometime, one before bed?

Itgetsthehoseagain · 22/04/2021 18:15

OK - 4 times a day. Now I understand the annoyance!

Gobbeldegook · 22/04/2021 18:22

If the school refuse to give medication then they can't fine you for keeping her off school for medical reasons. That would be an authorized absence.

blueluce85 · 22/04/2021 18:43

I too wouldn't have thought it was an issue! My daughters nursery gave prescribed medication with no issues!

Biscuitybiscuit · 22/04/2021 18:47

I would give another dose as soon as she gets home and another before bed,

Pamelapu · 22/04/2021 19:00

Get the Dr to prescribe a twice daily antibiotic

Supergirl1958 · 22/04/2021 19:00

@Slayerofmyth

08:38Warmduscher

"It’s such a shame the OP didn’t immediately think, when handed the prescription by the GP and being told it had to be given four times a day - wait a minute, how will that work when she’s in school? If she’d asked at the time of the appointment, she could at least have said to the school that she’d already asked the GP and had been told there was no other way to give the medication. That would have shown she has realised there could be a problem and she has tried to find a solution.

Suggesting to the school that if they don’t administer the medication (as they are not obliged to do) the child will be placed in the care of her grandmother with dementia for ten days and implying that’s the fault of the school, weakens your argument that the school are the unreasonable ones."

I didn't for one minute think it would be an issue.... Thanks though, for your totally unnecessary comments. 😁

I actually don’t think they are unnecessary! ALOT of schools have it in their policy (which should be on the schools website or you can ask for a paper copy) not to administer medication. It isn’t to be unreasonable, it’s about not accidentally getting the dosage wrong etc as you so easily could if it was a short term medication in this case. Plus there’s the storage issue...I’m assuming they have to be kept in the fridge in which case, they may well be stored at the wrong temp etc! If it’s in the school policy not a lot can be done sadly! I am however sympathetic to your circumstances...do you trust a friend (parent of another child) to administer?