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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:
Dentistlakes · 21/04/2021 19:32

Our school would do it, but only because they have a school nurse present full time. The teachers or admin staff wouldn’t. It does sound like they can’t as it’s in breach of their policy, but it’s bloody hard on op.

Springchickpea · 21/04/2021 19:34

Whichever poster up thread said this isn’t life and death is being a bit stupid. An untreated infection can easily become life and death if the patient becomes septic.

My first instinct would be to try and chat to my GP about a twice daily dosing (not sure if possible for fluclox but is for some).

BoomBoomsCousin · 21/04/2021 19:35

I agree that your first step should be talking to the pharmacist or doctor to see if there is a different antibiotic or regime that will fit better with your circumstances.

If not, you might look through/refer the school to government guidance here:
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/803956/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf

Which includes advice that parents should not be required to come into school to administer medicine (though also makes clear that teachers must volunteer to administer and must be trained to do so - schools may not administer medicines if they do not have trained, willing staff) and that children should not be penalised for attendance related to their medical condition. Between those two you should be able to make a case that they either need to administer the medicine or not harass you if you need to keep your child off school to ensure she receives the medication prescribed to her.

PhillipPhillop · 21/04/2021 19:35

@SuperMonkeys

I administered antibiotics at lunchtime today, it's hardly rocket science and takes all.of 1.5 minutes.
It takes longer than that in my school to login to our medication app let alone the whole procedure! Shock And then get key for fridge from office, unlock fridge in staffroom, find correct meds, relock fridge, take medicine to medical room, go and find child in playground, give medication, update record, send email to parent, LOG OUT (v. Important and takes 2 mins if you are lucky), return child, return meds to fridge, relock etc, return key to office. 15 mins in a school like mine! A fridge in the medical room would be so practical...
Htp320 · 21/04/2021 19:36

I’m totally shocked that a school would refuse to do this. I’ve worked in 4 different schools and have never heard of this being refused.

It is not a big deal to give medication once or even twice a day. Staff do have to be trained but there should be at least 2 staff trained to do this. No wonder people teacher bash when people think they are too busy to facilitate this. I’m appalled that anyone would think this is ok.

Georgyporky · 21/04/2021 19:36

Surely a 10 year old can be taught how & when to take her medication?

CarmelBeach · 21/04/2021 19:38

@Georgyporky

Surely a 10 year old can be taught how & when to take her medication?
Yes but if the school won't keep it in the fridge that's no help anyway.
underneaththeash · 21/04/2021 19:38

Schools have a legal duty of care to support any pupils with a medical need, it doesn't have to be a long term one.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/803956/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf

"no child with a medical condition can be denied admission
or prevented from taking
up a place in school because arrangements for their medical condition have not
been made."

I would just make the head aware that you're aware of the legislation.

MyDcAreMarvel · 21/04/2021 19:38

@SleepingStandingUp the hour before food means take on an empty stomach . You don’t have to eat an hour after taking it!
Also you can take on a full stomach if needs be.

CarmelBeach · 21/04/2021 19:38

@underneaththeash

Schools have a legal duty of care to support any pupils with a medical need, it doesn't have to be a long term one.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/803956/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf

"no child with a medical condition can be denied admission
or prevented from taking
up a place in school because arrangements for their medical condition have not
been made."

I would just make the head aware that you're aware of the legislation.

Exactly why the MP suggestion is a good one.
NotquitewhatImeant · 21/04/2021 19:39

What @BoomBoomsCousin said!

Original poster
Slayerofmyth · 21/04/2021 19:39

It's insane that so many of you do this as part of your school policy, and yet my school can't? By the way there's NO way I'm waking up my DD twice in the night...😂😂 I hardly sleep as it is and am permanently knackered. I think it's pretty rank of the school to threaten me with a fine without even trying to offer a solution, that's just bloody cheeky. There's been other issues too, my DD who is 10 and has breasts and body hair, is expected to get changed in a classroom with the boys. Honestly if she wasn't nearly I'm her last year of primary I'd be moving her.

OP posts:
waitingforthenextseason · 21/04/2021 19:40

I work in a primary school. I think it's appalling they won't give your daughter her antibiotics. Complain to the governing body.

CatCup · 21/04/2021 19:41

Stick a dose in her lunch box with a cool bag?

spanieleyes · 21/04/2021 19:41

But the child isn't being denied admission or being prevented from taking up a school place!

Onesailwait · 21/04/2021 19:41

I think you're making this an issue that doesn't need to be. You've been given some good options here
1 change the schedule of the doses
2 talk to the Pharmacy or GP and get the dose changed.
Both make much more sense than keeping her off school in the care of a relative with dementia.

Shrivelled · 21/04/2021 19:42

The world’s gone mad if school are refusing to assist with this.

berryhead2013 · 21/04/2021 19:43

Give one in the morning one at pick up and one at bed time

berryhead2013 · 21/04/2021 19:44

Sorry reread and it's four times a day what time does she go to bed

lalafafa · 21/04/2021 19:46

She should be able to do it herself at 10 years old. If she’s got a phone get her to set a timer.

minniemomo · 21/04/2021 19:46

If she's 10, ask for pills instead, she can easily self administer then. My dd took pills daily from 6.

Warmduscher · 21/04/2021 19:46

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

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.

If you had any idea of what it’s like to work in a school office, you wouldn’t describe it as being unhelpful.

Read @NeverDropYourMoonCup’s post. And factor in that the child may forget to go to the office, and the teacher may forget to remind her (especially if it’s at lunchtime when the class teacher will also be in their lunch break), then the office person will have to go and find the child (difficult when it’s lunch time) - can you see how time-consuming this might be when there are phones to answer, lunchtime injuries to sort out, inhalers to administer ...

I used to give a child his meds in school because I was supporting the family as a family support worker and I knew if he didn’t get his dose at school he certainly wouldn’t get it at home. But this was Movicol, in a sachet, which the child (age 10) was able to empty into a cup of water himself. I was only needed to make sure he took it and fill in the medication log.

Warmduscher · 21/04/2021 19:47

@lalafafa

She should be able to do it herself at 10 years old. If she’s got a phone get her to set a timer.
Primary children aren't’ allowed to have a phone on them during the school day, for obvious reasons.
CutieBear · 21/04/2021 19:47

Staff can’t administer medication. Most schools state this in their policies.

greeneyedlulu · 21/04/2021 19:49

I'll probably get told off for this but I've always been told that it's important to finish the course of antibiotics so when my son had them, it was prescribed as every 6 hours.... yeah well the not realistic so he had one in the morning, straight after school and then bed time and he was fine.