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Original poster

Our school won't give dd her prescribed medicine at lunch time

35 replies

twirlaround · 13/01/2006 13:00

How can this be sensible, and what is to be done if parents are unable to go in at lunch time to give medicine?

OP posts:

starlover · 13/01/2006 13:01

why won't they? what is the medicine?

WigWamBam · 13/01/2006 13:04

Our school won't do this either, in principle - we are expected to go in and administer it ourselves. In practice, though, we can fill in a form which allows the teaching assistants to give the medicine, although they won't guarantee that it will be at a particular time. The school don't make it widely known that this is available, so it might be worth asking if there is something similar at your school.

littlerach · 13/01/2006 13:17

I don't think that DD1's pre school would either, in case they administered the wrong amount.

Original poster

twirlaround · 13/01/2006 13:20

antibiotics

I will ask about filling in a form but I don't think this is an option at dd's school. Agree they might be keeping it quiet though!

Not for long if I find out this is the case!

OP posts:

starlover · 13/01/2006 13:21

so what do they suggest you do? keep her off school?

Littlefish · 13/01/2006 13:22

We give out prescribed medicine if a permission & doseage form is filled in. We try really hard to give it at the right time, but I must admit, I'm not brilliant at remembering!!

Icemum · 13/01/2006 13:43

Are the antibiotics three or four times a day? If they are three times daily then a new government directive has come in (according to our HT), this says that if three times daily is needed then the school doesn't give the in between dose. I.E you give the lunchtime dose at home time. This doesn't work however if the doses need to be spaced out. Our school is the same by the way.

Original poster

twirlaround · 13/01/2006 13:45

dd has had 2 lots of antibiotics in the last 2 months , both 4 times a day...

OP posts:

Caligula · 13/01/2006 13:47

And the government wants us all to go out to work the whole time...

Icemum · 13/01/2006 13:47

If they are four times a day then they shouldn't be refusing.

tegan · 13/01/2006 14:47

I tend to give meds before school, after school and then just before bed to get the 3 lots in.

Polgara2 · 13/01/2006 14:51

I have a problem with this too. I can get them to give the antibiotics if I ask the right person BUT they won't keep them in the fridge, so in effect they wont give them and I have to go in. .

lact8 · 13/01/2006 14:52

I've had same experience with ds1. his teacher said if ill enough to need medicine shouldn't be in school in the first place!

Caligula · 13/01/2006 16:43

What a stupid thing for a teacher to say. Everyone knows that when you take anti-biotics you may get better but you still have to finish the course.

This really gets my goat actually. On the one hand, the government are telling everyone that being a SAHM isn't a valid choice - the tax credit system penalises couples where one isn't working in the cash economy - but otoh no institution which parents have to deal with on a daily basis adapts itself to deal with the fact that both parents are supposed to be out at work.

MadMaz · 16/01/2006 00:14

have had this problem - sometimes the office will sort it out for you if you plead etc. I have to fess up, once child is about 7 I have found it easier to send in a dose in a small vial in lunch bag and a note TAKE your medicine! Have to hope for the best then..... its not easy being a working mum.

Tortington · 16/01/2006 00:29

schools are covering theri arses and righyl so imo.

my daughter is on strong ABa at the mo because of bacterial tonsilitus. she has to take 4 times a day.

tomorrow she will take at 7 when she gets up and then at 3.30, 7 and 10.

Flossam · 16/01/2006 00:45

I have had to do three years training to be deemed responsible enough to administer medicine. Just a thought as to why teachers should not have to do this.

Tortington · 16/01/2006 00:47

it should not be an additional responsability on teaching staff - the medical wellbeing of your child

Nome · 16/01/2006 01:43

As a teacher, I would not be rushing to take the responsibility of administering medication. If you write down the wrong dosage, 15ml instead of 5ml say, and your child is then given the wrong dosage, it would be 'my fault'. If your child does not turn up at the staffroom at lunch time to take their medicine and misses their dose, it would be 'my fault'. If I do it for your child, then I have to do it for the other 25 children in the class (probably not all at once though). I am not paid for my lunch breaks during which I am tracking down the ill child and dosing them up, as well as eating my lunch, sorting out photocopying, meeting with other staff, parents etc, doing detentions. And you may be responsible about sending your child in once the infection is clearing and your child is on the mend, but many parents send sick children into school and teachers taking on the responsibilty for giving medication will only encourage them.

geekgrrl · 16/01/2006 07:08

twirlaround, how long is she on it for? The rules and regulations regarding medicines in school have changed quite recently. The new guidelines are Here .
It is at your school's discretion, but they might feel a bit more cooperative when they read this.

My dd had antibiotics at school, she sometimes needs to have them for weeks so we had to find a solution. The school were much happier after reading the new guidelines.

SoupDragon · 16/01/2006 08:02

It's not unreasonable for there to be someone in the school office or one of the first aiders who has the "responsibility" of giving prescribed medicine to your child if they are too young to do it themselves. The dose is printed on the label of the medicine bottle so it's not too tricky. Even an untrained parent can do it after all.

Flossam · 16/01/2006 10:50

Yes but SD as an untrained parent you are taking responsibility for your child. As you would expect. As inconvinient as it is a teacher is not trained and is a big deal for them to take on the responsibility. Did you know that pedeatric medicines have to be checked by not one, but two qualified nurses?

robinpud · 16/01/2006 11:14

MadMaz- I can understand your motives for putting the medicine in your son's lunchbox, but have you considered the implications? Are the lunchboxes accessible to other children.. what might happen if a child took your son's medicine. I know it shouldn't happen but schools have really strict rules about where medicines should be stored and for good reason. I am sure your son is really sensible but others around him might not be.

yoyo · 16/01/2006 11:39

Twirlaround - according to our school's prospectus you can ask your doctor for ABs of the three-times-a-day variety. Perhaps you could ask your GP if he needs them again.

I can understand why schools are reluctant to do this especially if the school is large. I also agree that a child should not have medicines in their bags or lunchboxes.

Caligula · 16/01/2006 11:42

Sorry but this looks to me like the cover my arse society gone mad. How many children in a school are on medication at any one time? How difficult is it to do? My DS's school acheives it by getting the parent to sign a form saying they trust the office staff to manage to administer a spoon of medicine and having them responsible for doing it, not the teaching staff. Requests get put straight in their electronic diary (with paper daybook diary as well) so that they remember. But they do have an ethos of co-operating with parents as much as possible within the bounds of common-sense and safety.

Apropos of this, did anyone see Child of our Time last night? One of the kids has diabetes and has to administer his own injections, at school as well. I was just thinking as I was watching it, that I'd be fairly nervous about having a diabetic child in my class if I were a teacher.

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