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Original poster

if your child was refused their inhaler at school when they requsted it..

84 replies

misdee · 03/05/2006 19:17

and your child went on to have a full-on asthma attack, needing neduliser and steroids, how would u tackle the school?

OP posts:
jellyjelly · 03/05/2006 21:58

I would tell her in this instance it is ok for her to kep asking and asking if she is ever told no then she goes to another adult and then another if they wont listen until she gets it.

Original poster
misdee · 03/05/2006 21:59

i will tell her again. think its time to look into medic alert, just so the school realise how seiously i am taking this.

OP posts:
LillyPink · 03/05/2006 22:06

How terrible, misdee. My daughter has asthma, and though she has only needed her inhaler once at school, they had no problem in giving it to her. I really trust her school and her teacher in that respect, and I think that that is very important to me.

See how the meeting with the head teacher goes, perhaps they will even change their procedures if you make it known how angry and upset you are.

Our kids spend a lot of time and school, we need to fully trust teachers with our precious children. I really do feel for you on this. Good luck.

foundintranslation · 03/05/2006 22:06

misdee, as I said on the other thread, it's appalling. Like your dd I grew up with asthma, sometimes quite nasty, and had a fair few unpleasant attacks at school. If I'd been refused access to my inhaler there I don't think my parents would have been responsible for their actions. Angry

I agree with the others. Request urgent meeting with class teacher and headteacher, ask to see and discuss their asthma policy, possibly contact LEA. Issue explicit written instructions that she is to have her inhaler as and when she asks for it.

fransmom · 03/05/2006 22:09

hi misdee i have chronic bronchial asthma and i agree with katiebl, panicpants and spinach.

perhaps you could see the cab, and tell the school you want a meeting with the headteacher, lea rep., and your local councillor to sort out the situation to your satisfaction. it's a sad state of affairs when the school might be more willing to listen to you if your local councillor is on board. perhaps you could keep records/copies of all correspondence, telephone conversations etc to help your case?

Original poster
misdee · 03/05/2006 22:32

dh says to give them a talking to and see how they defend themselves before we take further action or remove dd1 from the school.

i still cant believe they didnt call me or give her her inhaler. she is now asleep but is coughing at intervals. she has had one dose of prednisolone before bed.

OP posts:
WWWontSlagOffAnyone · 03/05/2006 22:39

Misdee, this is awful. I think you should ask for an appointment with the school asap AND you should put your concerns in writing. It's just not on. Can you also get your GP to write a letter saying that she must be given it if she asks for it and take it with you? I know you shouldn't need to do this but I'm just trying to think of anything that might strengthen your position and make them realise how serious it is. So I think you should make it PERFECTLY clear, in writing, what the consequences of dd not being allowed her inhaler were. It's really neglectful imo.

hub2dee · 03/05/2006 22:41

Worth clarifying with the teacher exactly what was said and done IMHO. This sounds 100% unacceptable. I also had asthma as a kid, and also had a very hard time after all those stupid fecking runs.

butterflymum · 03/05/2006 22:44

Order them a \link{http://www.asthma.org.uk/document.rm?id=70\School Asthma Pack} or print off a copy yourself for them. Then request a meeting with both the Head and the School Nurse together, to convey your concerns and ask if they have an Asthma Plan in place and if not, would they be willing to implement one based on the guidelines in the Pack.

Original poster
misdee · 03/05/2006 23:01

thats a good site. will print that off when i get a chance

OP posts:
Caligula · 03/05/2006 23:30

At the very least I'd make a formal complaint about this. It's unbelievably dangerous and stupid and I can't believe that any school has such an alarmingly casual attitude to something as potentially dangerous as asthma.

That's really alarming Misdee, make as much fuss as you need to. I hope your DD feels better.

Original poster
misdee · 03/05/2006 23:32

i am hoping they just didnt relaise that the cough indicated the asthma. am hoping it was a mistake and not soemthing that has happened before or will happen again.

OP posts:
milward · 03/05/2006 23:34

Agree with Caligula here. A dangerous situation - plus do they deny other kids their medication? Being told to have drink of water of asthma is neglect & shows lack of info. It also demonstrates that they don't care what you & your doctor prescibe.

hub2dee · 03/05/2006 23:37

BTW - part of the problem here is that it sounds like they didn't follow their initial suggestion (glass of water) with checks to ensure your dd was OK IYSWIM...

Original poster
misdee · 03/05/2006 23:40

she was first out the doors and the other mums at the doors went 'oh she doesnt look well' and that was from a distance.

dd1 says she couldnt eat her lunch as she kept coughing. so she was needing her inhaler for over 3 hours Sad Angry

maybe i should home educate her.

OP posts:
ghosty · 03/05/2006 23:41

OMG Misdee ShockAngry
People can die from asthma attacks!!!!

Formal complaint definitely in order ... if you get no joy then I think it will have to be kneecaps I am afraid Angry

Original poster
misdee · 03/05/2006 23:43

i know ghosty. the GP was fantastic. when she had the neb mask on and i felt her relax and start to breathe again prperly i could've wept.

the nurse at the surgery was also fuming.

OP posts:
HunKeRMunKeR · 03/05/2006 23:44

Oh, Misdee, poor DD1!

Cannot wait to hear their excuse.

Kneecap, then flamethrower, I think.

Angry
hub2dee · 03/05/2006 23:45

Maybe get the GP or that nurse to have a word with the school ?

ghosty · 03/05/2006 23:47

I know I am going to spend the rest of today muttering under my breath about this Angry ... people will think I am mad!

Misdee - it's not as if you haven't got enough on your plate is it? Grrumble grumble Sad

Original poster
misdee · 03/05/2006 23:48

i will see what can be done hub.

i texted another one of the mums this evening to say that dd1 wont be in the rest of the week due to asthma attack and having neb and steroids, have asked her to tell the clas teacher in the morning, as i will probably sleep as late as possible, then call the school. i want the class teacher to know the situation as soon as the doors open, so she knows. and hopfully feels guilty and ashamed for the rest of the day.

OP posts:
Original poster
misdee · 04/05/2006 08:40

i have spoken to the secretary at the school to let her know that dd1 wont be in school today and possibly tomorrow. I have expressed my concerns about how she was dealt with, and i also have an appointment with the head tomorrow afternoon. I have said that when dd1 returns to school i want her inhaler in the classroom in a palce where she can get it and not locked away in another part of the school.

OP posts:
sassy · 04/05/2006 09:05

How is dd today, misdee?

Think this is v remiss of the school BTW.

Original poster
misdee · 04/05/2006 09:07

she is still coughing and wheezing at times. she is getting some relief from her inhalers now, so is improving. but am keeping a close eye on her in case she needs another nebuliser.

OP posts:
sassy · 04/05/2006 09:09

Poor thing. And poor you - more stress to deal with.

Sounds like t could have been avoided/minimised too.

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