To be cross at nursery for not administering antibiotics?

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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.

So annoying, when my Dc was in the same situation I would give one antibiotic at pick up (and try to pick up early if I could not always possible) then one later that evening (at like 11pm/midnight) then one in the morning. It's not perfect, but the nursery wouldn't do I think it was insurance related. I think they have to have mediation training before they are allowed, and obviously not all providers can afford that. My DC did move to a more expensive private nursery who did provide the Medications after that, but that was definitely felt in the costs that they would charge more and obviously that covered the cost of insurance and staff training for things like that.

It's nursery not school though, pick up is probably after 5pm and only a couple of hours before bedtime. There needs to be a dose in the middle of the day.

And inhalers? They are lifesaving emergency medications just like epipens.

There doesn't NEED to be a dose in the day. The dosage can in fact be changed to twice a day. It's better to be evenly spaced but a couple of hours here and there won't make much difference. Could also do 5pm and 8pm with a slightly later bedtime for baby- won't make much difference. I'd be more concerned about investigating the recurrent UTIs.

Our nursery gives antibiotics with no problem at all (assuming the child’s well enough to be in nursery, of course).

We have to fill out and sign a form confirming the medical issue, the medicine, the dosage, the times, and any storage requirements - and then they deal with it. As others have said they have a special medicine fridge for storing medicines that need to be refrigerated.

I’ve actually never heard of a nursery that wouldn’t administer them (until now obviously).

What times are your morning and bedtime doses?

If she's going 12 hours overnight, the argument would be that she could go 8-10 hours in the day (whilst at nursery) and have the third dose in the night. Ideally, you want as close to every 8 hours as possible.

our kids nursery were ok with it, but it had to be in the original packaging, with a copy of the prescription. which i always forgot about - so always had to get the pharmacy to make sure they took a copy (luckily the pharmacist at the place next to my GP's had kids at the same nursery!) there was also always a load of forms to fill in. i suspect that it's because of the additional admin they won't do it. but seems silly not to let you go in at lunchtime/take her outside the door and do it then send her right back in.

school are funnier with things though - if its a 4 times a day thing then they will do it. however three times a day we will do it before school, immediately after school and then bedtime. bit of a faff but that's how we get round it.

Could you give her some first thing, at dinner time and at bed time? Not spread out as evenly as lunch would be, but still spread out.

That's a ridiculous policy. When I was a nursery nurse, we gave medicine for loads of things.

As long as the parent signed a consent form and two members of staff were there to give the medicine (one as a witness) it was fine. Both members of staff signed the form.

Couldn't you argue that the other way? If she is already needing to go 12 hours due to sleep needs for age then they should be spaced as evenly as possible otherwise. Dinner could be 6pm and bedtime 7:30!

To change the dose to twice a day you’d need to change the type of antibiotic. Some antibiotics need to be given three times a day and some can be given twice. You can’t just randomly change the dose of any antibiotic because a) it won’t be effective and b) it will contribute to antibiotic resistance.

It may be that the bacteria causing the UTI’s has been identified and it’s a bug that needs the three times a day type.

Factual response: The nursery must make sure that parents and carers provide written consent for their child to be given medicine for a minor ailment or allergy. Parents should supply the medication to be used. (National Care Standards - Early education and childcare up to the age of 16.)

The dosing interval depends on the antibiotic. If it’s a 3x a day one that interval is designed to maintain consistent blood levels. So 6am, 2pm and 10pm, or 8am, 4pm and midnight are optimal.

For 12 hourly dosing you’d need a different antibiotic, which may be less suitable.

Factual, but not relevant in this scenario. Consent would be freely given by the parent; it’s the nursery who won’t give the medicine.

Such a ridiculous policy.

Ours will give medication as long as it's prescribed. They just say to keep them off first 24 hours of new meds as if they have a reaction its likely to be within that first day

@IrresponsiblyCertainAboutSexualDimorphism - I quoted the source in hope that the OP could quote it when discuissing this matter with the nursery.

@Densol57

Getting Ofsted involved?! They have nothing to do with that.

Presumably OP you have signed the policies and procedures relating to their terms and conditions so you should have read those more carefully.

Really antibiotics should be at equal intervals. So three doses could be done at home.

Our nursery will administer prescribed antibiotics, so long as the child's name is on the label. I take it in, fill in a form, and all sorted.

HNRTFT but that is bloody ridiculous! What is the rationale behind their refusal?
How about children who are on long term medication? Are they not allowed to attend nursery?
Surely as long as there is a written consent from the parents and a safe storage area ,then I cannot see the problem.
The world is going mad !

With schools it’s to minimise the risk of errors - which is probably the same with nurseries - and because of a lack of time.

Most will give ones that have to be given four or five times a day, so a school time dose is a requirement, but won’t for three as an after school dose could be given by the parent.

This is why it’s so important to read the contract, policies and T&C’s before signing up.

Even if it seems bonkers, if you’ve signed for it then you haven’t a leg to stand on.

OP literally says:

'We’ve started getting really good at catching them early, so my daughter is absolutely fine and happy in herself'

She does not mention a doctor at all and says that SHE is 'catching them early'. GP's don't tend to see and prescribe antibiotics to children who are perfectly fine and happy before they have symptoms.

The wording of the OP is enough to raise an alarm bell and as someone with a medical degree I can tell you it is unfortunately EXCEPTIONALLY common for people to think they know as much as professionals and misuse drugs (antibiotics being the MOST misused drug outside of addiction) like this and of course no nursery should give controlled medication without medical approval.

If its prescribed medication then of course any legitimate care facility should be trained to administer it, it would be both dangerous and discriminatory not to.

Would they refuse to medicate an epileptic child or diabetic child?
Or refuse to care for that child on the basis of disability?
They cannot do things like that.

My son is prone to ear infections. At the first sign of discomfort I submit a GP online thingy and we are seen the same day. I imagine a lot of people with 'just a little bit of redness' the GP would not prescribe antibiotics, but because of his history they are happy to do so. I don't know for sure, but I think this has meant it's not developed into something worse.
I (and my son) are very thankful for their approach.

This hasn’t been my experience, I find their position quite bizarre. When my DS was 13 months he started nursery and as it was winter and his first exposure to lots of kids he caught all the bugs going and had repeat chest infections, tonsillitis, ear infections etc.. so was regularly on antibiotics. We had to sign paperwork to say he was to be given the antibiotics, and the dose and frequency and we had to provide the nursery with the bottle and box the antibiotics came in but otherwise they were happy to give.

Is it just antibiotics? What do they do for kids who need regular medication given such as insulin or asthma inhalers?