Does your child's school administrator non prescription medicine?

[OnNaturesCourse]

DD has a prescription for her acid reflux and antibiotics for a chest infection.

The reflux medication is vile and she refused to take it. GP advised over the phone to try a different brand and flavour. DD took to this so we continued with it.

She returned to school today. I labelled all the medicines and filled in the appropriate forms for the school to administrator it all. She needs to have it all before her lunch today, and going forward will need the reflux medication for the foreseeable.

The school has called me saying they can't give her the reflux medication as it's not prescribed. I told them she has a prescription for a different brand and flavour but the GP advised we try a different one as DD wouldn't take the prescribed one. School remained firm on not giving her it.

Their advice was to collect her before lunch.

I'm shocked that they won't give her medication I have signed off on, and that she really needs.

I plan on calling the GP tomorrow and explaining the situation. But I doubt they will reissue a prescription for this other brand as its more expensive and not "on their books" (as said to me in the original call) Would a GP issue a letter explaining the situation?

Has anyone else had a similar issue? What was the resolution?

I think it is pretty common practise to not give medications that are not prescribed as the school need to know that the medication has been deemed appropriate by a health care professional.

Just swap the bottles.

Yes, it's pretty common to only give prescribed medicines.

In the first instance I would speak with the school and ask if a GP letter would surfice. Then ask the gp if you can get a letter with the dosage duration and both medical name and chosen brand as an example, I would hope that comes under a review of medications that should be possible with a nurse.

I have considered just swapping the bottles to be fair. Seems a silly thing.

Is there an Individual Health Care plan in place?

But will the school not check the medication that they're giving her against what's written down as to be given?
You're not meaning to fill the bottle with prescription label on it with the new stuff?
I don't think that's fair on the school to let them sign off on giving one medication but you've actually swapped so they are giving something else.
Could you not pay for private prescription for it?

No I could not pay for a private prescription.

School is saying keep her home and encourage her to take the prescription reflux medication.

Can't believe they are willing for a child to miss out on education because they need medicine not routinely prescribed by the NHS.

My only other plan is to send her with the prescription reflux medication and they can battle her.

we dont give non prescribed medicine, ever, in any circumstances. Quite right too

My son ended up admitted to hospital once becasue a well meaning receptionist gave him calpol and he had a liver malfunction which meant he shouldnt take it

In similar circumstances I told school and dr to sort it out between themselves as dr wouldn't prescribe and school wouldn't give without prescription. In the end, dr wrote a letter to say it was to be given under dr's advice, which school were happy with.

I think school are right on this one. Ours will give paracetamol after a phone call with parents but I wouldn’t expect them to give anything else that isn’t prescribed.

instead of someone picking her up can they not give her the medicine in school and then let her get back to lessons?

I wouldn't swap the bottles, if someone in school notices then you'll be in a world of pain because the school won't take kindly to being fooled. It's also pretty common that schools won't give medicine that hasn't been prescribed. I'd perhaps go back to the Dr and explain your problem.

Nope. Not even calpol after an operation after breaking her arm.

I understand this. That was without your permission but they have my permission. They had to give her the school inhaler once as they couldn't find hers, I don't see the difference.

They won't allow us to give the medication on site either which is just crazy.

Ask the pharmacy to print a label with your child’s name of medication and dose

They won't do this without input from the doctor.

Sorry, I don't understand how you've managed to get the new medicine from a pharmacist if that's not what's written on the scrip?

Take her off site then. Take her out of the school gate and give it to her in your car and then take her back inside.

In answer to your question, our school will give Calpol (which I'm v grateful for) after phoning a parent/carer.

Frustrating for you but good for the school, there are very tight guidelines for administering medications at school and by school staff and for good reason. Get the doctor to write a note, add it to their plan or similar.

Can't believe they are willing for a child to miss out on education because they need medicine not routinely prescribed by the NHS
But she doesn't.

She just doesn't want to take the medicine that was prescribed. The reason is immaterial.

I bought the new medication out right.

I can't travel to and from the school to give her it every day either. Even if I could to expect me to go in every day, sign her out, walk her to outside the gates, give her medicine on the street then walk her back and sign her in again is ridiculous.

Hopefully the GP gets back to me soon.

She's 5.
The medication she was given even makes me gag.
The DOCTOR then advised a different brand and flavour. One that is recommended but not given on NHS.

Oh, I see. Very odd that it's medically recommended but not prescribed. Is it a cost issue?

Her ongoing issues etc are all noted on her plan. I'm hopeful the GP will provide a letter that the school will accept. Otherwise the school is going to have to get her to take the original medicine (and honestly, good luck to them)