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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:
OverTheRainbow88 · 21/04/2021 18:32

Maybe one before school , straight after, then just before bed and one in middle of night... not ideal at all but no missed school and work!

BlackeyedSusan · 21/04/2021 18:32

ring the education welfare officer at the council and the school nurse responsible for your school and see if they can help put a rocket up their arse.

Make it clear that the child is off becuase the schoool are refusing to provide medical treatment. Complain to the head teacher.

OverTheRainbow88 · 21/04/2021 18:33

@QuitMoaning

They need to be stored in a fridge, and also kids can’t keep their own medication on them at school so school needs to agree

Original poster
Slayerofmyth · 21/04/2021 18:34

It has to be an hour before food. Each school seems to have their own policy. I really can't afford to take time off work, my boss will not be happy, we're a very small pharmacy team. I am very mad and upset...I feel they are being deliberately difficult.

OP posts:
SuperMonkeys · 21/04/2021 18:35

I would either send in a cool bag and have her self administer, or shift the doses so one just before school, one straight after, one at bedtime and then wake her at 1030 or similar for last dose.

MaskingForIt · 21/04/2021 18:35

Give them overnight. I’m currently taking antibiotics which have to be evenly spaced, so I have them at 0300, 0900, 1500 and 2100.

FrancesFlute · 21/04/2021 18:36

It's true every school has their own policy but you need to get hold of their policy and read it. Could you change a dose to have one during the night (wake her up).

Crappyfridays7 · 21/04/2021 18:37

Seems mad they won’t give one dose to keep her in school it’s medication with her name on it. Fluclox needs to be in the fridge though so that could be an issue.
This isn’t really the same as asthma, it’s not life threatening like diabetes or asthma if you don’t get insulin or salbutamol if you need it but surely a short term med to keep a child who can be at school in school would be a good idea. Hope you find some sort of solution sounds really stressful.

Devlesko · 21/04/2021 18:37

YABU. You have to go yourself.
Should your child not be at home as they require so many doses a day.

OppsUpsSide · 21/04/2021 18:39

I would email them so you can have what they are stipulating in writing. Have you just spoken to the office or have you spoken to the head?

MiddlesexGirl · 21/04/2021 18:40

The school ABU. They cannot expect you to get into school to medicate.
So either they do it themselves, or they supervise dd to do it, or they accept that dd is off sick.

UrAWizHarry · 21/04/2021 18:41

You need to check the relevant policy to see if the school are following procedure. If so, get onto pharmacy and discuss your options.

Absolutely ludicrous situation though. If it came to it I would keep the kid off and refuse to pay any fine.

1Morewineplease · 21/04/2021 18:41

I'd definitely check school policy.
My school does not administer antibiotics if the prescription is for three times a day, but will for four.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 21/04/2021 18:43

@Soubriquet

Seems daft when they give other medication like inhalers when needed
People can quite easily die from not being given an inhaler immediately.

Having to go six hours between spoonfuls of Amoxycillin instead of four, less so.

Just collect at lunchtime, give medicine, return to school. Easily sorted.

Tinyspiky · 21/04/2021 18:44

I would contact the doctor and explain the problem, ask for twice daily antibiotics instead, there's plenty different preparations available so it really shouldn't be a problem.

GrumpyHoonMain · 21/04/2021 18:45

I presume she can’t be trusted to do it herself? Does her Nan have a carer? If you have a relationship you could ask them - when mum broke her arm another relative’s carers used to give her, her meds too.

Eaumyword · 21/04/2021 18:45

I'm a School Sec and we do administer antibiotics as they are Dr prescribed. I thought that was government guidelines but might be wrong - have a google.
I would expect the parent to work the dose regime so that only 1 dose was required at school. More than 1 dose is a bit much/cheeky when you can fit the other 3 doses around your day and I'm so busy with everything else.
You would need to email your consent, explaining the dose amount, length of course and time of dose and also explain to your child that they have to remember to come to the office - I usually have to go and find the child and it's really helpful if they can remember.
Also helpful is home and school medication, but if it has to go home and come in, if you can remind your child to collect it at home time, that is great (I take it out of the fridge and give it to to the child in a bag as they go out with their teacher for collection.)
That's our school anyway.

Original poster
Slayerofmyth · 21/04/2021 18:47

Yes I spoke to head, they said it's school policy but I haven't seen it.

OP posts:
QuirkyUsername · 21/04/2021 18:47

When I was a kid, my mum would flip the timings around so that I had them at night, so one in the morning, one when back from school, one at bedtime and then one at about 12/1 am. It may be a ballache but it'll be your best chance of getting the doses in, and not having to involve the school.

TankFlyBoss · 21/04/2021 18:47

Education welfare officer here. Most schools are willing to help - have they said the actual reason they can't (won't) give them?

As to the fine - bollocks, sorry. For a start it's not even up to the school, the decision is taken by the local authority. Secondly, that would be completely unreasonable if they are effectively preventing her being in school by not facilitating her being able to take essential medication.

Please don't worry about being fined. Won't happen.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 21/04/2021 18:48

I once worked in a childcare setting and we weren't allowed to administer medication either.

We didn't have the facilities to store medication, and we couldn't guarantee that one of us would be free to give the medication at particular times anyway.

Its a bit rubbish, but I totally get the schools stance.

Do you get a lunch break you could pop to the school in? Is there another parent nearby you can ask to help since its just short term.

Dddccc · 21/04/2021 18:48

My ds school is the same we dropped down to 3 doses one before school 1 after and 1 at bed time, most school policies say they don't do short term meds

redcandlelight · 21/04/2021 18:48

@Sirzy

At 10 can you ask for the medication in tablet form? That may be easier for school to manage.
I was going to say that. my dc had their meds from about 8yo in tablet form for various reasons. I gave dc a small dosette in their lunchbox.
ineedaholidaynow · 21/04/2021 18:50

There should be a policy on their website. Is there a parent you could ask to help out, I would offer if I knew a friend was struggling with this. Although probably not allowed in COVID times

Pottedpalm · 21/04/2021 18:52

@Eaumyword

I'm a School Sec and we do administer antibiotics as they are Dr prescribed. I thought that was government guidelines but might be wrong - have a google. I would expect the parent to work the dose regime so that only 1 dose was required at school. More than 1 dose is a bit much/cheeky when you can fit the other 3 doses around your day and I'm so busy with everything else. You would need to email your consent, explaining the dose amount, length of course and time of dose and also explain to your child that they have to remember to come to the office - I usually have to go and find the child and it's really helpful if they can remember. Also helpful is home and school medication, but if it has to go home and come in, if you can remind your child to collect it at home time, that is great (I take it out of the fridge and give it to to the child in a bag as they go out with their teacher for collection.) That's our school anyway.
Dear Lord! How is it ‘cheeky’? The child is away from home for ten hours a day and mum can’t leave work. Those saying self administer, take it in a cool bag etc. , that’s not allowed. It’s so unhelpful of the school to say keep her at home when they could solve the problem easily. OP, ask for a copy of the policy and come back to us.
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