Painkillers for injuries not allowed

[anotherstressedmum]

Hi all
I am so frustrated my nursery will not allow any child in who have taken painkillers like Calpol or ibuprofen unless it is prescribed. My son has broken his big toe he is 3 years old and my doctors won't prescribe over-the-counter medicine. So my choice is to send him in without painkillers or keep him home until he is healed. I am teacher and this is a real problem especially this time of year.

Does anyone have any literature or links that challenge this policy for injuries? I understand it for illnesses because it masks symptoms but say he broke his arm for instance he could potentially be off for weeks.

From a stressed-out mother who is fed up with the systems that make our lives so difficult.

https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/gp-practices/managing-workload/prescribing-over-the-counter-medicines-in-nurseries-and-schools

This is great please keep them coming.

I'm guessing they don't want a dose of calpol to disguise an illness. An unwell child might appear fine for the first few hours but when the medicine wears off it becomes clear they aren't actually well enough to be there. By then though, they've spread their illness to everyone else.

I'd argue that a broken toe is a different situation. Surely your son received medical attention and regular pain killers during the healing process was advised. I'd inform the nursery of this and send him in.

Are you also asking them to administer calpol, or just accept him after you have given calpol?

Ibuprofen is long lasting. I would just give him a dose right before you enter. You don’t have to tell them.

im definitely against dosing to mask illness, but this is different.

I am not asking them to give the medicine as someone already suggested Ibuprofen lasts long enough that I can give it to him in the morning. They sent him home today because I gave him pain medicine. They have just sent this email in reply to mine saying the doctors will not prescribe pain medicine. It is ridiculous how many of us have gone to work on paracetamol due to bad back etc. It excludes any child with a long-term injury or illness and damages their education.

'Unfortunately we are unable to give pain medication to children at the nursery if not prescribed and if any child should need pain relief for the day then they are not well enough to be at nursery.

If he is in pain with his toe and showing signs of this we will not be able to have him at the nursery until he is healed and readily able to be in the nursery in good health.'

Everything depends on what the nursery policy is - at the end of the day they're a private company and can make up whatever rules they want as long as they're complying with basic legal requirements and standards. Some settings will administer calpol/pain relief to children who are e.g. teething if they have parental permission to do so, others have a policy not to and say if you need pain relief you should be at home.

If you want an example to compare with, a nursery run by a hospital trust has a bit in their medication and illness policy that says:

11 A CHILD ATTENDING WITH AN INJURY
It is important for a child to feel they are able to participate in the nursery routine however we recognise there are times that an injury or illness may prevent them accessing all the resources or activities available in the nursery.
If a child has had a significant injury such as a fracture to an arm or leg the nursery will request the child stays home for one week after the injury to ensure pain relief is met. After this period the key Worker or Nursery Manager will meet with the parent to discuss a health care plan of the reasonable adjustments the setting will make to ensure the child is comfortable at attending the nursery. UH Sussex Nurseries reserve the rights for a ‘Disclaimer’ letter from the Parent or carer should they attend with a significant injury.

Thank you givemushypeasachance for your example this is very useful and seems a reasonable way to approach it.

I appreciate everyone's input and time replying to my post.