Nightclub took DDs epipens

anaphyl4xis · 2023-03-04T08:56:47+00:00

My DD - 18 and a 1st year uni student - went to a nightclub last night and they refused to let her keep her epipens on her. They said if she needed them She had to go to the medical room. She was with a group of friends and had all paid to get in and the venue also refused to refund if they decided not to go in. AIBU to be absolutely livid and to follow this up with the company. For context my daughter has a life threatening allergy to nuts - but not peanuts.

Augend23 · 04/03/2023 08:57

That's insane to me. Surely that must be disability discrimination?

lottie2888 · 04/03/2023 08:58

I’ve worked in clubs for years. This is not the norm. Tbh it’s probably an over zealous security member who are often an outside company. I’d 100% follow it up with the club.

ChilliBandit · 04/03/2023 08:59

I think it’s up to your daughter whether she wants to complain (I would), but you would not be unreasonable to support her with her complaint if she does.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 04/03/2023 09:03

If I was your DD I would call them and ask, the nightclub management may not be aware this is happening, she can also explain to them the possible consequences of not having her pen with her.

Original poster

anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:04

ChilliBandit · 04/03/2023 08:59

I think it’s up to your daughter whether she wants to complain (I would), but you would not be unreasonable to support her with her complaint if she does.

I was more interested in whether it was would be an over reaction to really push for their rules to be changed and for an apology wrt to their approach, than whether it should be me or her that actually takes it forward.

But, at 18 I'd have been less likely to push this kind of thing and this isn't the same as complaining about poor service in McDonald's - so if she doesn't want to I will.

OP posts:

Original poster

anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:07

Augend23 · 04/03/2023 08:57

That's insane to me. Surely that must be disability discrimination?

Apparently a paramedic explained where the medical room was - so whoever is providing their emergency medical cover has accepted it.

OP posts:

ChilliBandit · 04/03/2023 09:09

anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:04

I was more interested in whether it was would be an over reaction to really push for their rules to be changed and for an apology wrt to their approach, than whether it should be me or her that actually takes it forward.

But, at 18 I'd have been less likely to push this kind of thing and this isn't the same as complaining about poor service in McDonald's - so if she doesn't want to I will.

Show quote history

I don’t think it’s an over reaction and I agree that it’s not the same as complaining about poor service, that’s why I suggested supporting her. I still think it’s your daughter’s choice. This could be a good learning moment for her with your support. She is soon to go off into the world with her allergy and it will be good for her to learn how to enforce her rights to keep herself safe.

NoSquirrels · 04/03/2023 09:10

If they have a medical room, that’s staffed, and she and her group of friends were told where it is, then is it different to a school or education establishment holding the epi pens in their medical room?

GeekyThings · 04/03/2023 09:10

Of course you should complain, how is this even a question? I'd be complaining on two grounds, first that they took the EpiPens off her, and second that they refused to refund her when they failed to provide the service she paid for because they took the EpiPens off her!

I would call and ask for the manager, making it clear that I was making a formal complaint. My demands for the outcome would be an unreserved apology from them, and guarantees that they would be retraining their staff to make sure this didn't happen in future. If and if they weren't willing to do this then I would be approaching the local council because it may that they could lose their licence over this as it's a failure to provide a minimum duty of care to their customers.

I wouldn't leave it to my 18 year old to make the complaint, although I would involve them through the whole process so they can see how to handle it when they're a little older.

WeWereInParis · 04/03/2023 09:14

I'd complain as well, and I don't think this is a normal policy. I've just asked DH, and he has never been told he can't have his epipens.

Even if they don't back down on the epipen issue, they should definitely have refunded them.

Original poster

anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:14

GeekyThings · 04/03/2023 09:10

Of course you should complain, how is this even a question? I'd be complaining on two grounds, first that they took the EpiPens off her, and second that they refused to refund her when they failed to provide the service she paid for because they took the EpiPens off her!

I would call and ask for the manager, making it clear that I was making a formal complaint. My demands for the outcome would be an unreserved apology from them, and guarantees that they would be retraining their staff to make sure this didn't happen in future. If and if they weren't willing to do this then I would be approaching the local council because it may that they could lose their licence over this as it's a failure to provide a minimum duty of care to their customers.

I wouldn't leave it to my 18 year old to make the complaint, although I would involve them through the whole process so they can see how to handle it when they're a little older.

Thank you. I'd not thought about the licensing aspect - that's helpful. 😊

OP posts:

LandLockedLucy · 04/03/2023 09:14

I’d complain and I’d also complain to the licensing authority at the council in the hope they are reprimanded officially.

An epipen isn’t optional.

Targetted · 04/03/2023 09:15

I suppose it must to be do with spiking. You can see why they'd want control of injectables on site, but they'll have to find a better way for those who really need them. That said, proper medical room on site, is not a good solution, similar to in school?

I think initially approach on the basis that you need to understand what happened, why and what can be done to make sure everyone is safe, rather than an all guns blazing complaint.

ScoobyBooby · 04/03/2023 09:16

That’s horrendous !! Getting to that medical
room and back in a packed night club intime to administer the pen . I would complain !

Original poster

anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:16

NoSquirrels · 04/03/2023 09:10

If they have a medical room, that’s staffed, and she and her group of friends were told where it is, then is it different to a school or education establishment holding the epi pens in their medical room?

I think the difference to me is that a nightclub is a more chaotic environment to negotiate when you're going into anaphylactic shock.

And when my daughter was in secondary school she was able to carry her pens with her and the school had a back up set.

OP posts:

JustKeepGoingThere · 04/03/2023 09:16

I'd definitely follow this up. It can't be unusual for people to carry them

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 04/03/2023 09:19

NoSquirrels · 04/03/2023 09:10

If they have a medical room, that’s staffed, and she and her group of friends were told where it is, then is it different to a school or education establishment holding the epi pens in their medical room?

A school shouldn’t be holding epi-pens I a different area either.

Epi-pens (and asthma inhalers) should be in very close proximity to the person who needs them at all times.

Theres a big push on to educate schools on the nonsense of locking pens in cupboards in medical rooms as it’s highly bloody dangerous.

Original poster

anaphyl4xis · 04/03/2023 09:19

ScoobyBooby · 04/03/2023 09:16

That’s horrendous !! Getting to that medical
room and back in a packed night club intime to administer the pen . I would complain !

Yes that's exactly my thoughts.

I also think this is wider than my daughter - she isn't allergic to peanuts so has a lower risk in pubs etc than somebody who is.

OP posts:

Iyjd · 04/03/2023 09:20

NoSquirrels · 04/03/2023 09:10

If they have a medical room, that’s staffed, and she and her group of friends were told where it is, then is it different to a school or education establishment holding the epi pens in their medical room?

Yes. Because at the school I work at we have the spare, we don’t confiscate them. And we have a picture of the child sent out regularly to remind us and we all have to know who they are .
This is an adult, that the medical team don’t know and they didn’t let her keep them and them have a spare.

YukoandHiro · 04/03/2023 09:21

The whole "it's not peanuts" is no defence though. People carry epi pens for all kinds of allergies that are just as serious (egg, milk, sesame) but everyone always assumes it's only peanuts that matter.

OP, there are lots of journalists interested in allergies since Natasha's Law. I'd go to the press about this one. It will shame them into an immediate policy change.

Holdontowhat · 04/03/2023 09:24

I think this is diabolical. How would they immediately know that she was going into anaphylaxis rather than just drunk if she became ill? I doubt all staff would have awareness she had been carrying the epi pen. Or what if she went into it whilst in the toilet alone and couldn't make her way to the medical room? I think you should maybe contact Natasha's law, they have a Facebook page to clarify the law around such circumstances and see what they suggest

MadeForThis · 04/03/2023 09:24

I wouldn't want to have to navigate a packed club to get to a medical room. Too much risk.

Tooley76 · 04/03/2023 09:24

LandLockedLucy · 04/03/2023 09:14

I’d complain and I’d also complain to the licensing authority at the council in the hope they are reprimanded officially.

An epipen isn’t optional.

This, 100%. It’s an appalling policy.

Sirzy · 04/03/2023 09:24

Epi pens should be with the person who needs them all the time. There isn’t time to go hunting for them.

ds has an emergency injection kit for a different condition which isn’t quite as urgent so is stored in the school office but I wouldn’t expect it to be taken off him when out somewhere!

are the venue willing to take responsibility for the consequences if they misplace them?

NoSquirrels · 04/03/2023 09:25

Fair enough wrt medical room.

The club policy will be to do with the rise of spiking by injection a little while back, which they thought could be done with modified epi pens or insulin needles.

If she was told by a paramedic, the club obviously does take medical issues seriously and has a policy.

So I’d go with the asking questions approach, in order to get them to consider changing their policy, rather than an all guns blazing you’re wrong and discriminatory etc.