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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Cm club - allergic child, mum is getting rid of epipen, what do i need ot cover my back, Urgent!!

17 replies

jellyjelly · 20/04/2006 19:45

Hi all, Will be looking after a child with an allergy to strawberries, i wont be given them in any shape or form but what do i need to cover my back.

The mum doesnt think she really needs the epipen because it was her who asked the doctor and the doctor gave it. That is ok, bit odd but ok. (she has said that everyone wants one but they only last 4/6 months?). she does lots of clubs etc

What do i need to cover my back, She has never had to use the pen before.

Advice please, signing contracts tomorrow morning for next week.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

doobydoo · 20/04/2006 19:58

I really think you should have an epipen...just in case.

lexiemum · 20/04/2006 20:20

is it worth contacting nhs direct or viewing their website? hows your relationship with your practice nurse or health visitor - could you pose it as a hypothetical scenario and see what they say?

there will be an expiry date on all epipens and will need to be replaced but not sure how long they have.

i think you should make it clear that although foods will be removed from diet when with you, this will not alone avoid further reactions (?whether she has full investigations for allergies) and as an epipen is not provided then its basic first aid until an ambulance arrives and put ownership on mother.

RTKangaMummy · 20/04/2006 20:25

Why can't the epipen go everywhere with the child

How old is she?

Original poster

jellyjelly · 20/04/2006 20:41

5 years just. Seh doesnt think it is that major as the allergy nurse told her to give her strawberries after the child got hives, swolleness etc She hasnt given it becuse of the last reaction which i can understand as we had to give eggs to our allergic son and it was horrible just watching and waiting.

It is a protein in the strawberries but is alright with kiwi, toms and peppers which are quite similar.

OP posts:

coral · 20/04/2006 21:22

Hi jellyjelly,

I am a mum of an anaphylactic child and have also been a childminder to anaphylactic children. Both my dd and the other allergic children I have had in my care have had emergency treatment plans provided for their care through the allergy clinic they attend. This sets out the nature of the allergy, medicine prescribed for the treatment of that allergy, and what steps whould be taken in the event of a severe reaction taking place. I would certainly want a copy of this if there is one available.

I have also found it helpful to draw up allergy management plans so that you know exactly where you stand. There is a useful sample for pre-schools which can be easily adapted at www.allergyinschools.org.uk/docs/Preschooldownload.doc (sorry, cannot do links!)

Hope this helps.

Coral.

PS - Does she have prescribed piriton as well as the epipen? Usually they go hand in hand.

SofiaAmes · 21/04/2006 05:58

That's positively silly. It is free to get a new epi-pen...they expire after a year (not 4/6 months). You should insist on her getting a new prescription and leaving the pen with you. Much better to be safe than sorry. If she does have an anaphylactic reaction, she could die if you don't have the epi-pen. And if it turns out that she never needs it...what is the mother losing. I had to insist that my gp send send me to a specialist,who promptly prescribed an epi-pen when she heard my symptoms. It's been almost a year and I haven't yet used it, but it sure makes me feel good to know that my children won't have a dead mother if I do end up having another reaction like the last one (that prompted the visit to the gp).

threebob · 21/04/2006 06:22

Say you won't take the child unless she comes with the pen. If the Dr has prescribed it - she should send it, same as she would with antibiotics or something. You don't need one all the time - just one in her bag. What's the point in you having one in the house when she's not there?

Here in NZ we insist on a year expiry date as we have to pay $120 for them.

Personally I have never heard of someone needing an epipen for strawberry allergy - but nothing about allergies would surprise me.

alison222 · 21/04/2006 18:31

As a mother to Ds who has various allergies, and and epi-pen which touch would I have never used either, I would not be happy to send him anywhere without it.
despite the best intentions reactions can and do occur unexpectedly and what do you do if you need the pen and it isn't there? Better safe than sorry.
They are prescribed free of charge, and i have never had a problem with the doctor giving me more if needed (eg for school etc).
Also after my won experience as a childminder I would now insist on the epi-pen and I presume anitihistamine of some sort being with the child at all times - we take them to the park etc- eg if you have an ice-cream when you are out or something, or she helps herself to a bit of someone else's food like a strawberry lolly?

did you sign the contracts/
What happened?

Original poster

jellyjelly · 21/04/2006 20:22

I have done the dontracts and i might speak to the legal department of ncma. The mother as she has a mecical mind persuaded the doctor to have the pen not the other way around and the child had a strawberry yoghurt recently and was fine but she hasnt tried real strawberries.

OP posts:

threebob · 23/04/2006 19:56

What sort of mother nags a doctor for an epipen, and then feeds their child a yoghurt containing the very thing she was convinced she needed the pen for? First child?

Original poster

jellyjelly · 23/04/2006 21:13

Do you mean she is my first child or hers. Not my First but is hers and he youghurt was taken by the child as they were on the side when the dad so go get some.

Will call ncma legal to get advice.

OP posts:

alison222 · 23/04/2006 22:09

Do you feel comforatable about it though Jelly?
i guess strawberry is not to difficult to exclude from the house (unless you have my DD in residence who LOVES strawberries and everything strawberry flavoured)
i just think if mother had told me she had an epipen and then said she wouldn't bring it i would be very nervous, not that I would want to push one on a child unnecessarily IYSWIM

threebob · 23/04/2006 22:18

I meant her first child!

Original poster

jellyjelly · 24/04/2006 07:41

wHEN she explained it i could understnad as it seems as though just the doctor gave it and she didnt go to the allergy clinic. Will talk to legal, thats all i can do.

OP posts:

Twiglett · 24/04/2006 08:15

I wouldn't take a child without an epipen

I think probably in this instance the child probably hasn't had a serious allergy but the parent over-reacted to a mild reaction and is now a bit embarrassed about it

ask her to get her allergy tested properly and to provide everything necessary .. in writing .. tell her that you couldn't in all conscience take a child at risk unless you had information from the doctor

it really isn't worth the worry if you ask me

Original poster

jellyjelly · 24/04/2006 09:19

I spoke to both ncma and ofsted. Ncma said that i could take the child and wouldnt be breeching any of the contract by listerning to the mother but had to call ofsted.

Ofsted said ask for a letter or an epipen and it si up to you. Now all confused about wht to do.

OP posts:

looneytune · 24/04/2006 09:39

I'd speak to the mum and say that you had to seek advice about not having an epipen due to insurance reasons (as it could invalidate it - or something like that) and that Ofsted have told you that you either need an epipen with you at all times, or a letter from her confirming that she is not providing an epipen and that you are not liable if anything happens as a result of not having one.

You could always offer to put a letter together for her to just sign. Why would she have a problem signing something? At least by doing a letter yourself you are not waiting around for weeks whilst she gets round to doing it!

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