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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:
Thirtyrock39 · 21/04/2021 18:53

It's a lot of responsibility for schools to administer medication believe it or not. In many care settings only qualified nurses can give medication. I used to work in a special school and did the medications (nhs healthcare assistant) and had to do a fair bit of training and every medication had to be double checked before it was given with another member of staff. And there needs to be proper recording otherwise meds can easily be given twice or not at all.
It may sound over the top but imagine the repercussions if a mistake was made so some schools choose to make the decision not to give medication by staff. There's also things like the correct storage - medication needs storing correctly often in fridges which then must be temp checked daily / it's a lot of work if done properly and of not done properly it isn't safe

Sirzy · 21/04/2021 18:54

It is worth remembering that no staff member in school can be expected to give medication. Plenty do but it can not be assumed they will, they have the right to say no.

EasterEggBelly · 21/04/2021 18:55

@QuirkyUsername

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.
This is a good solution. Better to have them without the food then to have to keep her off school and you off work.

I think the school are being ridiculous.

Jessbow · 21/04/2021 18:56

Do you know anyone, another parent /neighbour maybe, that lives near enough to school that could pop in and do it?

happytoday73 · 21/04/2021 18:57

Our school wouldn't do this either.. It needing to be kept in fridge also meant couldn't go to childminders, sit in bag at school for afterschool club and then home.

We spread doses over night as PP suggested.. As soon as I got home, at bedtime, middle of night, as dropped off at childminders at 8....not perfect but not totally dis similar to if just gave in day...

AnnaMagnani · 21/04/2021 18:57

Fluclox liquid is legendarily vile.
If she can take it as capsules she will be a lot happier. And it doesn't have to be an hour before food even though it says so on the packet.

celandiney · 21/04/2021 18:58

@DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult

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.

This I don't get - you couldn't guarantee one of you would be free to give the medication? That a child in your care needs? With a window perhaps of a hour? Actually this isn't that uncommon a situation - I think a childcare setting should have the ability to store medication,as part of doing their job.( not aimed personally at you , DifficultPifcult)) The OP will have to take 2 weeks off,to be able to just pop in and give their child medication,and its a bug ask to ask another parent to take time to go in and back home,when it would take someone already in school maybe 5 minutes.
AuntyHope · 21/04/2021 19:03

7.50am Antibiotic
6.10pm Antibiotic

Then at say
11pm
3am

helen650 · 21/04/2021 19:04

That’s awful. I’m a school secretary and we’re always giving children their antibiotics when needed. Parents fill out a form and bring the meds in and we keep it in the fridge. I usually set an alarm on my phone to remind me and I go and give the child their medicine. It’s not hard, I’ve never heard of a school not doing that for a prescribed medication

Shedbuilder · 21/04/2021 19:04

I'm going to suggest something odd, but it might work quickly. Contact your MP, tell them the whole scenario — single working parent in a frontline business, long working day, working at a distance, school refusing to assist your child to take medication and threatening to fine you if you keep her off sick.

Mark is urgent or, better still, call the constituency office. Sometimes an enquiry from an MP's office can work wonders.

Original poster
Slayerofmyth · 21/04/2021 19:05

There's no one to ask, and I don't really see why I should. I offered to do a mar sheet and give her pre measured doses in a syringe. I think I'll keep her off tomorrow and look into it. It's been suggested I contact the school governors and welfare department of the local council.

OP posts:
Pixie2015 · 21/04/2021 19:06

Could you contact gp to see if could change it to a one that is only given twice a day ?

Sorka · 21/04/2021 19:06

YANBU OP. I don’t see why they can’t care for a child in their care. Ridiculous to threaten you with fines as it’s the school that is effectively denying your daughter an education as they won’t support her need to take medication.

As an aside, and I know this isn’t relevant to your problem, but I really hate medicines that have to be kept in a fridge. I once had eye drops that had to be kept in a fridge and taken every two hours. This was made even more impractical by that fact that I was working in London with a 1.5 hour commute that could easily be 2 hours on a bad day. Nightmare.

Sirzy · 21/04/2021 19:06

Pre measured doses certainly wouldn’t work as anything that is given needs to be in original packaging.

Your best bet would surely be one of the dosing suggestions others have given?

PhillipPhillop · 21/04/2021 19:06

Not sure why antibiotics are now four times a day? It was always three in the 'old days' so one before school, one after and one at bedtime. If I was you I would do one before school, one after and one at bedtime (leave the 4th dose for now) and then 4 times at the weekend. Could you phone the gp and ask if that would be suitable or if you could increase one dose?

wellhellohi · 21/04/2021 19:08

At 10 could she not self administer?

Roselilly36 · 21/04/2021 19:08

If school won’t administer medical treatment as prescribed, I would be inclined to report to LEA, no way should you be fined for unauthorised absence if the school can’t/won’t administer medical treatment.

Sirzy · 21/04/2021 19:09

Other option talk to a pharmacist and see if it can be split over 3 doses instead. So instead of 4 5ml doses do 3 6.5ml doses

Sirzy · 21/04/2021 19:10

@Roselilly36

If school won’t administer medical treatment as prescribed, I would be inclined to report to LEA, no way should you be fined for unauthorised absence if the school can’t/won’t administer medical treatment.
Given schools don’t have to give medication like antibiotics then I don’t think a lot would be gained!
Joeblack066 · 21/04/2021 19:11

@Prestissimo

GP here. What medication is it OP? If it’s Erythromycin you can usually give two (double) doses instead of four doses daily. Worth discussing with a pharmacist as suggested above.
Best advice so far OP. So difficult for you. Hope this answers your problem.
MichelleScarn · 21/04/2021 19:11

It could be as @Thirtyrock39 has said and the issue is that its liquid, as the school takes responsibility that the correct dose is measured out and given. Have you asked if they will prompt if its in capsule/pill form?

spanieleyes · 21/04/2021 19:12

Schools cannot insist that staff provide medication. If all staff have refused to do so ( which they are at perfect liberty to do) then the school might have no option!

( Not saying I agree though!)

Joeblack066 · 21/04/2021 19:13

@Devlesko

YABU. You have to go yourself. Should your child not be at home as they require so many doses a day.
And how should the OP do that when she works far from the school and does not drive? Isn’t it hard enough with 13 weeks school hols and 4 weeks annual leave every year, without the Op taking 10 days of it to give medication.
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 21/04/2021 19:14

Gosh this actually makes me cross that schools can be deliberately so unhelpful.

OP I'm a registered childminder and would be happy to help if you were local enough to me (free of charge I'm not touting for business!)

Message me if you happen to be in Berkshire.

Beautiful3 · 21/04/2021 19:14

I would give her 2 doses together in the morning and another double dose when she gets home.

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