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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be cross at nursery for not administering antibiotics?

108 replies

artline200 · 16/11/2023 10:13

I have a one year old daughter who unfortunately has frequent UTIs and consequently is often on antibiotics. We’ve started getting really good at catching them early, so my daughter is absolutely fine and happy in herself, well enough for nursery, but needs antibiotics x3 a day. Logically that is one dose when she wakes up, one before bed and one around lunchtime, but the nursery have said they are not even allowed to have it on the premises. Is this common policy? It seems a bit ridiculous to me.

OP posts:
MrsMarzetti · 16/11/2023 10:55

artline200 · 16/11/2023 10:17

I even asked if i could pop in to give it to her a lunchtime and they said no!

They cannot say no.

bugaboo218 · 16/11/2023 10:56

Our policy states we cannot give antibiotics it is to do with risk. Risk to the child administering it wrongly and staff, who for example have allergies to penicillin.

would never stop a parent coming into administer though providing their presence was not disruptive to lunch itself and nap time afterwards.

We can only administer calpol and antihistamine plus epi pens .

Comedycook · 16/11/2023 10:57

MrsMarzetti · 16/11/2023 10:55

They cannot say no.

Agree...I'd probably just turn up and ask for my DD....I'd take her off premises, give her the medicine and return her.

DappledThings · 16/11/2023 11:06

Both nursery and school have been happy to give antibiotics for us as long as bottle is labelled correctly and we've filled in a form they have.

This nursery sound unhelpful.

UniversalTruth · 16/11/2023 11:07

Agree with asking to see their policy.

Practically though, there's no difference between the three doses being morning/lunch/DD bedtime versus morning/pick up/your bedtime. I would do the latter if she'll take the medicine half asleep.

BananaPalm · 16/11/2023 11:09

HAF1119 · 16/11/2023 10:16

Not in my experience, mine would not allow my one to attend for 24 hours at the start of every anti biotics course, but would give them as long as they had a dated prescription each time

That's how our nursery manages it. Can't imagine it being otherwise...

amicissimma · 16/11/2023 11:09

The dosage intervals are aimed at trying to keep antibiotic levels in the blood reasonably stable. So for 3 times a day you would be aiming to give a dose every 8 hours. It may not be possible to give all doses exactly 8 hours apart, so as close as possible is good.

If you give her a dose as you take her in (on their doorstep if necessary) and one the moment you pick her up, and then one halfway between the two times, unless she has a very long day at nursery, you should be able to keep the blood levels fairly stable. Better than missing a dose completely.

Mintesso · 16/11/2023 11:09

artline200 · 16/11/2023 10:17

I even asked if i could pop in to give it to her a lunchtime and they said no!

Ok that’s ridiculous. If they don’t want it on the premises can you take her into the carpark and do there? I appreciate this will confuse her greatly.

What schools and nurseries don’t understand is that some antibiotic courses fail unless administered every five hours.

RB68 · 16/11/2023 11:19

I used to do a dose b4 school dose after school and bedtime to get round this

Canisaysomething · 16/11/2023 11:26

My DC’s nursery just had a permission form to fill out and asked for the bottle to be named.

housethatbuiltme · 16/11/2023 11:27

Are these prescribed antibiotic from a doctor?

Or left over ones you are using from a self diagnosis?

Conkersinautumn · 16/11/2023 11:28

It's a very basic aspect of care to be able to oversee dosage of meds inline with a chart. This nursery sounds a bit wishy washy and not somewhere I'd be using.

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/11/2023 11:32

housethatbuiltme · 16/11/2023 11:27

Are these prescribed antibiotic from a doctor?

Or left over ones you are using from a self diagnosis?

What a strange question.

Seems like you're eager to tell OP she's being unreasonable and need an angle to do so.

YourNameGoesHere · 16/11/2023 11:33

housethatbuiltme · 16/11/2023 11:27

Are these prescribed antibiotic from a doctor?

Or left over ones you are using from a self diagnosis?

What a weird question? Are you just looking for a reason for the OP to be the unreasonable one here?

Whataretheodds · 16/11/2023 11:35

Can you adjust to one morning, one after nursery (on pickup) and one before bed? How much gap would you have between 2 and 3?

Peablockfeathers · 16/11/2023 11:37

They don't have a legal obligation to administer prescribed antibiotics, no. Most will with caveats such as not for the first 24 or 48 hours but fine after that. If its a recurrent issue then it's worth looking at other settings- maybe try to speak to the manager or something first though to check something hasn't been lost in translation.

givemushypeasachance · 16/11/2023 11:45

There isn't any rule that says they can't administer medication - the EYFS statutory framework covers what they have to do, ensure it is prescribed, there is written permission to administer from parents, they keep a record of doses etc. So if they're refusing it will because they have their own setting policy not to do it. That you can challenge, pointing to the fact that the government regulations say there is a process for managing it! But it would probably boil down to them either being risk averse or misunderstanding their insurance coverage.

Medicines
3.45. The provider must promote the good health, including the oral health, of children attending the setting. They must have a procedure, discussed with parents and/or carers, for responding to children who are ill or infectious, take necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection, and take appropriate action if children are ill.
3.46. Providers must have and implement a policy, and procedures, for administering medicines. It must include systems for obtaining information about a child’s needs for medicines, and for keeping this information up-to-date. Training must be provided for staff where the administration of medicine requires medical or technical knowledge. Prescription medicines must not be administered unless they have been prescribed for a child by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist (medicines containing aspirin should only be given if prescribed by a doctor).
3.47. Medicine (both prescription and non-prescription) must only be administered to a child where written permission for that particular medicine has been obtained from the child’s parent and/or carer. Providers must keep a written record each time a medicine is administered to a child, and inform the child’s parents and/or carers on the same day, or as soon as reasonably practicable.

CharlotteBog · 16/11/2023 11:45

MassageForLife · 16/11/2023 10:18

They won't be insured to give medication. If anything went wrong, they would be liable.

So children on any sort of medication can't attend nursery? Ever?
Surely that can't be right.
What about kids who have an epipen? Would they not be allowed to go to nursery, just in case.
Don't nurseries have staff training in these things?

CharlotteBog · 16/11/2023 11:47

It's been a while since mine were at nursery, but at that time they were allowed to give Calpol with our permission and any prescription meds we'd sign a form allowing staff to administer it.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 16/11/2023 11:48

Many schools and nurseries will only give antibiotics when it’s absolutely essential.

My DDs SEN school will give antibiotics when she needs them four or five times a day, as they must be given during school hours. They won’t, however, when she needs them three times a day as they can be spaced outwith school hours.

Its very common now.

Seagrassbasket · 16/11/2023 11:50

That’s utterly ridiculous. DS’s nursery give them as long as it’s a type he’s had before (so they know he’s not allergic) with a copy of the prescription. And of course the ubiquitous form filled in.

What are they expecting you to do? Keep her home every time? I’d be furious.

RightTimeRightPlace · 16/11/2023 11:51

What time do you pick her up? I'd do morning, pick up time then bed time. So 8am, 4pm ish, 7pm.

Seagrassbasket · 16/11/2023 11:53

RightTimeRightPlace · 16/11/2023 11:51

What time do you pick her up? I'd do morning, pick up time then bed time. So 8am, 4pm ish, 7pm.

That isn’t enough space between the doses. They need to be spaced as evenly as possible.

LeggyLegsEleven · 16/11/2023 11:54

Mine originally would give anything with a form (including painkillers) for each dose.
Then they would only administer things from the doctor (which may include calpol etc).
Then nothing.

It was a pain in the arse. DD suffered with her teeth a lot when she young, but I couldn’t not work for teething. Then they would complain she seemed grouchy and unwell and drooling. Can’t win.

RightTimeRightPlace · 16/11/2023 11:56

Seagrassbasket · 16/11/2023 11:53

That isn’t enough space between the doses. They need to be spaced as evenly as possible.

It doesn't really matter. Sometimes needs must.

OP next time just tell the doctor the situation he can change the doses to twice a day.