Page 18 | School refusing to give antibiotics

Slayerofmyth · 2021-04-21T17:14:38+00:00

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.

Albatross26 · 22/04/2021 19:12

I'm really surprised at the school. I'm an attendance officer who is also the lead for first aid and I regularly store and administer antibiotics (secondary so the kids come to the office and take them themselves)
We ask parents to sign a form to say they're happy for us to do this and we've never had any issues. I'd much rather do this than have a kid absent for a week unnecessarily!

pollymere · 22/04/2021 19:24

Medicines need to be roughly spaced. Hospitals work on a six hour basis so wake you at midnight and six! You aren't expected to do this. I would aim for 8am, 4pm, 8pm and say you will come into school for 12 noon one of the school policy doesn't allow otherwise. It's usually ok if it's a prescribed drug with their name on for them to administer it but some schools say no.

If this isn't doable then try 8am, 3pm, 7pm, 10pm (or 11pm). You could half wake them for the night dose.

MarchingOnTogether · 22/04/2021 19:32

Give your gp a call and ask if it would be okay to give a double dose twice a day. As far as I am aware it's okay to do this with anti biotics

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 22/04/2021 19:38

@MarchingOnTogether

Give your gp a call and ask if it would be okay to give a double dose twice a day. As far as I am aware it's okay to do this with anti biotics

No it is not. It's on every freaking prospect and even on the NHS website that you don't double up a dose.

No wonder HCP don't insist on adequate even spacing for self administration if people think doubling the dose is a perfectly normal thing to do.

mylifestory · 22/04/2021 20:00

school policy is shit! theyre meant to give antibiotics! ive never heard such nonsense. ask your gp, maybe they will call the school. call the local authority!

SnowdaySewday · 22/04/2021 20:07

What did the GP or pharmacist say when you asked about changing the timings of the doses?

MonsteraMother · 22/04/2021 20:17

@Slayerofmyth

The school policy is to only give medication for long term illness, like asthma etc. She is on these antibiotics for 10 days.

This is an unreasonable policy. How ridiculous! Every school I know of has a form that the parent completes in order for school staff to administer essential medication.

bemusedmoose · 22/04/2021 20:19

None of my kids schools have given medication - parents have to go in when needed. I dont know any schools that can administer medicine unless they have a qualified nurse. I'm a trained first aider and we cant even give calpol. Trained staff can administer things like epi pens and inhalers.

Sarahrellyboo1987 · 22/04/2021 20:22

You need to fill in the appropriate medication paperwork to give them permission to administer.
However, if you’re able to take the time off to administer the meds then I’m not sure why you can’t take the time off either to work from home and pop to school or pop to school from work.

Sarahrellyboo1987 · 22/04/2021 20:23

@bemusedmoose I work I’m a school and schools can administer medication if the staff have been trained. You don’t require a nurse. Simply to have the correct training and paperwork completed. However, it’s always best avoided if possible.

marktayloruk · 22/04/2021 20:25

You have my deepest sympathies. The school are just a bunch of jobsworths.

Original poster

Slayerofmyth · 22/04/2021 20:27

Update.....I've got a new prescription for Erythromycin, twice a day so that problem is solved. I'm still furious about the way I've been treated though and angry that my DD hasn't had the medication she needed because of their stupid policies, considering many other schools manage just fine. I'm going to make an official complaint about this episode and the getting changed in front of boys for PE. Thanks to everyone for trying to help.

OP posts:

Original poster

Slayerofmyth · 22/04/2021 20:29

20:22Sarahrellyboo1987

"You need to fill in the appropriate medication paperwork to give them permission to administer.
However, if you’re able to take the time off to administer the meds then I’m not sure why you can’t take the time off either to work from home and pop to school or pop to school from work."

I've explained.....they wouldn't do it, even with the paperwork. I work far from school, I cannot take time off work to administer medication. I live in the real world.

OP posts:

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 22/04/2021 20:32

@Slayerofmyth

Update.....I've got a new prescription for Erythromycin, twice a day so that problem is solved. I'm still furious about the way I've been treated though and angry that my DD hasn't had the medication she needed because of their stupid policies, considering many other schools manage just fine. I'm going to make an official complaint about this episode and the getting changed in front of boys for PE. Thanks to everyone for trying to help.

Leave this issue. It's sorted now.

The changing and the sanitary bin is much more important, and probably contravene their own policies. They're also more likely to harm your daughter in various ways.

They won't be able to dismiss it or refer you to policy and turn you around as they can with the antibiotics.

Pick your battles OP, and this is a massive battle. I suggest you start a new thread so you get advice specifically for it.

PhillipPhillop · 22/04/2021 20:33

Or, you could get 'angry' at the GP snd say why didn't you give me that in the first place?

Luddite26 · 22/04/2021 20:38

I am glad you have got a solution OP. Sorry to read your posts it seems that you are swimming against the tide at the moment and some things come along that seem trivial become the straw that broke the camel's back.
Hope you get a break soon. Keep going - you are doing an amazing job keeping it all together without any support. Sending you hugs and best wishes.

Original poster

Slayerofmyth · 22/04/2021 20:38

20:33PhillipPhillop

'Or, you could get 'angry' at the GP snd say why didn't you give me that in the first place?"

Why because GPs are mind readers......

OP posts:

Yourcatisnotsorry · 22/04/2021 20:43

One before school. One at lunchtime, either squirt it into a small Tupperware of yoghurt or in her drink or something. At 10 she should be sensible enough to take it. One as soon as you pick her up and one at bedtime. Sorted.

itsgettingwierd · 22/04/2021 20:45

@Radio4Rocks

I've yet to work in a school that will administer antibiotics. Long term medication is stored in the head's office and DCs go there for lunchtime inhalers etc.

Adverse reaction to antibiotics is not uncommon, hence heads I worked with decided it wasn't worth the risk and had to be the responsibility of the parents.

That's interesting - because I've yet to work in a school that won't!

OverTheRainbow88 · 22/04/2021 20:53

@Yourcatisnotsorry

It needs to be kept in a fridge... and kids can’t self medicate at school.

3totheright4totheleft · 22/04/2021 20:58

@Sarahrellyboo1987 can you even read? She works in a pharmacy! How is she supposed to work from home?

MonsteraMother · 22/04/2021 20:58

It's getting weird - ditto! Absolutely agree with you.

Primary school head here and I'd be fuming if this was a policy in my school. No school I've worked at in my 20 year career has ever refused to administer GP prescribed medicine. We care for children. How ridiculous to not have a system that can cope with this need.

Even if they have a policy I'd still expect a school to make reasonable exceptions on occasion.

iwannafurloughmydp · 22/04/2021 21:08

@Slayerofmyth

Update.....I've got a new prescription for Erythromycin, twice a day so that problem is solved. I'm still furious about the way I've been treated though and angry that my DD hasn't had the medication she needed because of their stupid policies, considering many other schools manage just fine. I'm going to make an official complaint about this episode and the getting changed in front of boys for PE. Thanks to everyone for trying to help.

I wouldn’t call Medicine Policy stupid. If your child, by accident, received the wrong medicine by someone not properly trained and supervised (two “trained”members of staff need to witness and sign when medicine is given) and end up in hospital the conversation would change, wouldn’t it ?

“Where’s your policies ? Who’s responsible ? I’m gonna make a complaint, I’m gonna sue the school bla bla bla

Sorry but your arguments seems so unreasonable and stupid as well.
Safety first !

Sarahrellyboo1987 · 22/04/2021 21:09

@3totheright4totheleft who pooped on your cornflakes to make such a wonderful ray of sunshine.

This information isn’t available within the original post and there were so many replies that it’s hard to filter out that she’s a pharmacist.

But, I hope you’re able to get help for whatever your problem is.

Additionally, she can ask for flexible time, utilise breaks etc. There’s all sorts of training etc that can also be done from home. So, think outside your narrow little box.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 22/04/2021 21:12

the GP should have thought about that tbh, but glad you got a change in antibiotics and timings