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Original poster

Eczema and schools

67 replies

Podmog · 10/01/2003 10:07

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susanmt · 11/01/2003 20:49

Hello. I am actually Susan's husband - I'm a GP and I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. The children with eczema which I treat are allowed to carry whichever emollient they are using and apply at need. The school is probably breaking the law by preventing your daughter from caring for her own eczema, and is certainly medically negligent in making her keep an epipen out of the room she is currently in. I would enlist the support of your GP and complain direcetto the education authority.
Please let us know what happens. Hope this is of help to you.
And hello, by the way! I gave heard a lot about Mumsnet but this is the first time I have written anything!

jasper · 11/01/2003 21:34

Hello Doctormt and welcome!
Thanks for your professional take on this.
Please join us again soon
We are a friendly bunch.

WideWebWitch · 11/01/2003 21:42

Agree, nice to hear from you Mrsusanmt. Susan, don't let him get addicted to mumsnet, you'll never get on!

susanmt · 11/01/2003 23:07

I have sent him to bed so I can get a go!
Actually he has spent over an hour looking at some dreadful Formula 1 website, so it MY TURN NOW!!

Original poster
Podmog · 13/01/2003 15:46

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bundle · 13/01/2003 16:08

Podmog, I'd put what you've done in writing and cc everything to the people (eg LEA) others have advised. I'd also send a copy to eg You & Yours (Radio 4's consumer programme), or similar. good luck

Original poster
Podmog · 14/01/2003 15:45

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aloha · 14/01/2003 15:49

Podmog - what reason has she given for this policy as it applies to Vaseline? She must surely have some kind of deranged reason for it? I would go on and on and on.She's just being stubborn now. Back to the dr, back to LEA, to the board of governors, and to the BBC if necessary. You have to be a fussy parent for your daughter's sake. I have never heard of such nonsense. Good luck.

lou33 · 14/01/2003 16:00

Definitely go back to the LEA and make a huge complaint. The headteacher sounds awful, and you are not being a fussy parent. Good luck.

Original poster
Podmog · 14/01/2003 16:53

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soyabean · 14/01/2003 19:47

Podmog
Have you spoken to or written to the governors? I am a parent governor at my childrens school and would certainly want to know if this was happening there. I would write a letter to the Chair of governors and copy it to a parent governor. Sounds like ths school needs to have a clear policy on medecines and creams etc in school, and the governors would need to discuss it. Good luck

ScummyMummy · 14/01/2003 19:53

Absolutely agree that you must re-approach the LEA, podmog. Sounds like the head is in need of a severe roasting from someone in authority. Which won't be you the parent, unfortunately. Good grief, but some headteachers are scum with regard to issues like this. I wish I was surprised.

Jimjams · 14/01/2003 20:41

Podmog you are not beng a fussy mother- this is an absolute necessity for your duaghters health. FWI W all parents of special needs children (and this is a special need) are made to feel like fusspots- don't feel bad - it goes with the territory.

This one needs a big fight. Does the head not understand that if your daighters hands re cracked she is likely to ge an infection. Aagghhhh I'm so cross on your behalf!!

WideWebWitch · 14/01/2003 21:00

Podmog, have you put it all in writing to the nasty head? Just that if you write she has to write back really (and pretend to have read the leaflets you enclosed) and you then have a record of the whole sorry saga to take to the LEA, the governors etc.

Claireandrich · 14/01/2003 21:28

I agree with everything said so far Podmog. Keep going, don't let the school get away with such a ridiculous policy. Definitely write to the Governers, and CC a copy o the Head and the LEA - and insist on a reply.

The school I teach at has no such policy so it is not a Government based one. OK, so we are secondary but I have not heard of it at any of the feeder schools either. Normally, any medication at our primaries are kept by the school nurse for children to get when needed. Teachers don't normally have responsibility - to protect ourselves I guess if anything went wrong. Very sorry, sad thing I know, but some parents will, and do, bring actions at times - NOT suggesting anyone here would, obviously.

Good luck.

aloha · 14/01/2003 21:57

My mind is boggling at the thought of a Vaseline related in-school disaster! Nobody's likely to overdose are they? It all just sounds so 'jobsworth' to me.

Batters · 14/01/2003 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mears · 14/01/2003 23:08

Have just read this thread and am appalled. Write to the Education Dept. summarising what has happened so far, and send a copy to the head. Perhaps you could send a supporting letter from your GP.She has had plenty of time to sort this out, so I would officially dump her in it. What about contacting your local councillor? Don't know if that is relevant where you live.

bundle · 15/01/2003 09:06

I know it might sound a bit melodramatic but I'm sure this contravenes your daughter's human rights too. and the Children Act. fume
Do let us know how you get on, I'm sure the BBC will be delighted to hear from you.

bundle · 15/01/2003 09:07

(we have medicines forms at our nursery, where a parent/carer has to regularly sign to consent to use of eg in one case use of asthma inhaler for a 2 yr old...I'm sure this is regulated as part of our Ofsted inspection and is a requirement of the nursery as part of its registration. can't see that schools would be any different)

Original poster
Podmog · 15/01/2003 15:59

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WideWebWitch · 15/01/2003 16:38

podmog, this book Managing Medicine in Schools looks useful. Not suggesting you buy it but maybe the library would have it. Or there's a contact the author link on the page.

bundle · 15/01/2003 16:53

Podmog, I'm afraid I was shooting from the hip a bit (ie I don't know the relevant parts of the law, but I'm sure it's a legal requirement )
but here's another school's policy on the administration, including a list of relevant documents near the bottom from the Dept for Education, stating exactly what's required from schools eg health & safety at work. from a quick skim, they encourage self-medication (supervised by an adult) and as yours isn't a prescription drug, it doesn't pose any of the medico-legal risks which the teaching trades unions are worried about when they advise their members on giving medicines to children. good luck .

robinw · 18/01/2003 08:38

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bunny2 · 18/01/2003 10:44

Cant belive this Pogmog. Ds has horribly cracked hands and we are wrapping every night. Must be the weather and central heating - we lived in Spain for a year and he never had a problem there. I'm a teacher and, in my experience, heads usually back down if you're forceful enough, all the heads I have worked with are actually frightened of the parents so go back and stick to your guns. I am so angry for you but as you can see from the support in this thread, the head is being so flipping unreasonable and this needs pointing out to her. Enlist whatever support you can - I'll write, what's the address???!

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