School is asking for details of medicine

[Chaya]

Hi, daughter had cramps and mentioned to one of the pastoral team that she had a GP appointment to look into it. She had the appointment, got a prescription, all fine. School is telling me I need to tell them the name and dose of the prescription.

I'm not comfortable telling them this. They've said it's because of supporting her during exams which doesn't make sense and I've said I'm not going to be asking for additional time and this has nothing to do with exams or school.

I've had a look at policies and can't see where they can 'require' me to tell them. They've not got weird about hay-fever medicine. If she goes on an overnight school trip I accept that I will need to disclose but this just seems a bizarre over-reach however teacher is really adamant she NEEDS this so I'm questioning myself.

I wanted to know if anyone knows if there's a specific requirement about this? I googled and then checked the school website and can't find anything supporting this teacher's request....

My dd has regular medication for a medical condition she has, she doesn't take them in school but can have side effects. She was in the middle of GCSEs and was admitted to hospital, school asked for a copy of her hospital discharge letter and a list of her medications. I sent them it, she's also on the pill.
If your dd is only on the pill then no I wouldn't tell them

Exactly
I'm sure you as a parent know if it's necessary to tell the school

Yes my kids high school would hand out over the counter pain killers. But DD got fed up of having to go to student services for her ibuprofen and would take her own in.

They have a record of DS medication he takes regularly (not at school). This is incase he where to be rushed off to hospital and they couldn't contact me. They only need it for long term medication. They have never bothered with things like antibiotics, although antihistamines for DS is on the list as he takes it all year round.

I tend to err on the safe side and delace everything, school have to follow all record keeping rules they aren't going to go round telling anyone. I school has a specific form you fill in which tells you how they hold the information, why and who they may need to share it with (ie in a medical emergency) and asking your permission to do so.

I'd be ok telling them most things, I wouldn't be volunteering information that she is on the pill.

Precisely what kind of accident will result in a paramedic having to do something or give a medication that interacts with a contraceptive pill, for all those claiming OP would rather her daughter dies a dramatic death before she's made it onto the ambulance because nobody disclosed a daily dose of microgynon?

I am sure staff in a school don’t have to declare what medications they are on in case they collapse or need to tell a paramedic!!!!

nor do children have to inform school of private medical details.

I've never been asked by a consultant or pharmacist and I'm on some pretty hefty medication
The only time is with antibiotics that might affect it

Ours all do. State grammar and private, we sign a consent form. I also take my brownie pack away and parents allow me to give over the counter meds.

That's really worrying. There are a whole host of drug interactions -
www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/understanding-drug-interactions/ www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/understanding-drug-interactions/]]]]

even with ophthalmic drugs we need to be careful (I'm an optometrist).

Make sure you always tell someone what you're on

Anyway, if she's on the pill, they need to know in case she comes in with a sore calf.

Not sure they’d join the dots

@theeyeofdoe I meant the pill specifically, they've asked about other meds but nobody has ever said do I take a contraceptive pill

I've been a teacher for 15 years in various primaries and no school I've worked in has ever asked this.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3

They need to know if the child needs support with taking the medication, and what if any medication they are bringing to school. If there are any side effects they need to be aware of, may be sleepy, thirsty etc. If it is a long-term problem and how it may impact the child, mood swings, depression etc or in some cases when a child is taken off medication and there are changes in behaviour.

But for most minor ailments where the medication is given at home and will sort itself out very quickly, verbal feedback that Joe has been seen by the doctor and given an antibiotic that morning and please keep an eye on him, or phone me if he gets worse is usually enough.

It depends on what the problem is. They only need to know details if there is a need.

How absolutely ridiculous- as well as insufferably patronising!

No, I wouldn’t in a million years trust a school ‘record’ to be correct or complete enough to be taken as gospel in a medical emergency. I’d absolutely reqjire confirmation and detail from the parent - the person with likely the most up to date knowledge and to whom the detail was a matter of utmost importance. I imagine that rather than standing there ‘panicking’, they’d be a lot more focused on getting their child prompt and correct medical attention.

loving the mental picture of useless flappy parents but thank god for the crisp, life-saving detail provided by um, the school secretary… in my experience they’d probably provide the information for a completely different child!

Because teachers are medical professionals and know all about medications.(sarcasm)

Patients are entitled to keep medical details private except for say making a disclosure for insurance purposes when they choose to apply for insurance. That's why doctors aren't allowed to breach their confidence and tell other people. I don't think there's any exception that says your mother has to tell the school especially when she won't be taking it at school or having it doled out at school.

I'd tell them I had no intention of telling them anything about my daughter's gynaecological details. Literally, they cannot make you tell them private stuff. What are they going to do if you don't tell them?

Do you tell your boss what meds you’re on so they can tell a paramedic in case you collapse?

Personally I think it's private, especially at her age.

I would tell the school that too.

Makes total sense to tell them. In unlikely event she needs medical assistance for something school woll be able to pass on this info.