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Original poster

Give me strength, another problem at school

73 replies

rebl · 14/09/2010 19:04

1st my ds and inclusion issues, now my dd. Honestly, they've only been in the school for 1wk and 2 days, all half days.

Today my dd's very serious medicine was sent home in another childs book bag Shock. This is serious stuff, my dd has just 1ml of it, its strong stuff. The bottle was full, 125ml in it. The other child was found by her mother with the bottle in hand.

In the mean time the TA and class teacher are trying to find the medicine, repeatedly telling me that they had put it in dd's book bag. Then TA suddenly thinks maybe she put it in wrong book bag. So then I'm sent to secretary and sit there whilst they start phoning round all the parents. HT becomes aware of the situation and is going a funny shade of purple whilst the TA is just standing there looking terrible.

The parent who finds her dd with the medicine then turns up at the school with the medicine. I leave.

I don't know what to do. I'm totally fed up with complaining. But this could have been very serious. I have also found out where the medicines are stored and they are on a table in the classroom at child height. Any child could get them. I don't understand why it has to be put in the book bag for a start as if they were handed to the parent then there wouldn't be a mistake. I also don't understand why the medicines aren't kept in a high up cupboard.

I'm worried about complaining again as well because I'm under the impression, rightly or wrongly, that the school doesn't have to give medicines during the school day and I could be asked to come in and do it. That would mean I would never be able to get a job.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 14/09/2010 19:07

Does she have to have the medicine in school at all? Is it a permanent thing?

ivykaty44 · 14/09/2010 19:07

I don't actually think the medicine shoudl be in school - sorry if it is not what you want to hear - but you should be administring the medicine and not a TA or teacher - even if that menas you go into school at set time to give your dc the medicine

Lougle · 14/09/2010 19:09

Oh rebl Sad Again, a few questions:

a) Is it essential that the medicine is taken during the school day, or could it be taken straight after school then just before bed? (Some medicines have shorter half-lives than others).

b) Could you send it in a cling-film wrapped syringe so that the amount of drug is limited?

c) Could you send it in small quantities if (b) isn't possible ie. 10 mls in a bottle at a time?

d) WHAT ON EARTH ARE THEY THINKING??? You need to see their drug policy - they need to be getting a secure place for it.

Are you OK?

mrz · 14/09/2010 19:10

Our school policy is that parents have to complete a form giving permission for staff to administer medication (it must be prescribed not over the counter) and detailing dosage and frequency. The container must have a pharmacy label showing the child's name and dosage.
Medication is stored in the office usually in the refrigerator or a locked drawer.

Caz10 · 14/09/2010 19:11

Medicine should be in school office, not the classroom. Ask to see school policy.

PixieOnaLeaf · 14/09/2010 19:13

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MummyDoIt · 14/09/2010 19:13

This is awful and if I were you or the parent of the other child, I would be furious. Sounds like your school seriously needs to review its drugs policy.

At our school, medicines are kept in a high-up cupboard in the school office. Each medicine is in a clear plastic bag bearing the child's name. Children have to go to the office to be given medicine. A parent comes in to do so if at all possible. If not, written permission forms must be signed. Medicines are only ever returned to the parent.

PixieOnaLeaf · 14/09/2010 19:15

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Feenie · 14/09/2010 19:18

Oh my god! I am not surprised the headteacher turned all shades of purple, she was probably imagining the headlines.

We keep medicine locked in a cupboard in the office, and in a locked cupboard in the classroom for one diabetic child. God knows what their medical policy looks like.

Original poster
rebl · 14/09/2010 19:34

Yes, she does have to have the medicine at lunchtime. I've contacted the neurologist this afternoon to confirm this. The neurologist wrote to the school back in the summer term detailing my dd's medical condition and her requirement for medication during the school day. The school confirmed verbally that they had no problem administering the medicine. I have filled in and signed a form for this.

I think I'm going to have to short term go into school at lunchtime and administer the medicine. I'm worried that they're not even to be trusted to be giving her the right amount.

Do I give up on this school? Its just one thing after another. Or is it just teething problems and it will work itself out? Do I actually have to complain about this? I mean, the head teacher is very aware of the situation so surely she should be now reviewing the medicine policy and making sure its being adhered to.

I really don't like confrontation and yet again I'm being forced into it. I hate complaining and its all I seem to be doing at the moment. The other parent saw me out of school this afternoon, plus other parents who received calls asking to check if they had the medicine, and they were all asking me about my dd's condition and I felt I had no choice but to share personal information that really was none of their business. Aarrrgggghhhh. I don't know what to do. What a sodding mess.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 14/09/2010 19:41

This may be a wake up call for the school hopefully. They need to be rigid about administering it with regular monitoring by yourself.

Lougle · 14/09/2010 19:42

I don't know, rebl - I am a bit of a control freak when it comes to medication ( I am a nurse, so probably think that no-one else can be trusted Hmm), so I think I would opt for giving in a cling-film wrapped syringe to the office daily, or around 15-20 mls in a bottle every few weeks, to limit the risk.

Lougle · 14/09/2010 19:43

The school do sound thoroughly unable to meet the needs of your children though Sad

pinkbasket · 14/09/2010 19:46

That sounds awful and totally unacceptable. My son recently needed medicine and I went into school every day for a week to give it, there was no other option. If you don't feel the school can be trusted then you will have to go in each day to medicate your dd yourself.

PixieOnaLeaf · 14/09/2010 19:47

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hoxtonchick · 14/09/2010 19:49

how about the head administers it to your dd at lunchtime and the medicine stays locked in her office all the time. does it have to travel between home & school -- could the bottle stay there & you have one at home too?

Feenie · 14/09/2010 19:59

I bet you anything the school are feverishly rewriting their medical policy as we speak - they will be well aware that they had a lucky escape - this incident could have had terrible consequences.

Original poster
rebl · 14/09/2010 20:01

This is longterm medication. I would never be able to work if I had to go in at lunchtime every day.

Pixie Regards other schools, I'm very limited. I'm obviously going to be looking for 2 reception places for a start. We're looking at small village schools around me, 1 of which I can rule out straight away because its the same head. I don't have a problem with small village schools but how do I know that they won't have the same problems as this one? The other options are much further a field.

Lougle I don't know if they would go with the syringe suggestion. The form I filled in said the medicine had to be in a pharmacy labeled bottle so that wouldn't be the case if it was in a syringe.

OP posts:
Original poster
rebl · 14/09/2010 20:03

hoxtonchick I will contact the pharmacy tomorrow and see if they can split the bottle for me. We're currently on a brand new bottle so it would be a while before I would get another prescription that I could maybe get split over 2 or more prescriptions.

OP posts:
Acanthus · 14/09/2010 20:06

Yes you need a bottle in each place.

Original poster
rebl · 14/09/2010 20:10

A bottle in each place wouldn't solve the storage issue. It would stop what happened today happening again. I will be trying to sort that out tomorrow 1st thing. The storage issue is obviously a problem as well though.

OP posts:
CarGirl · 14/09/2010 20:15

Our school will administer any pescribed medicine and it is stored near the office (they now have a medical room but they didn't used to).

There are a few diabetic children at the school so they can't give you nonense about not administering it, likewise it should be stored somewhere very safe. Could you imagine another child getting hold of a diabetic pack Shock

taintedpaint · 14/09/2010 20:20

Without prying, do the school know as much as possible about your DD's medical issues and the consequences of her not being given the correct dosage? I'm thinking that perhaps if they were given some more information in absolutely explicit terms, they might be shocked into being more attentive (with looking after the medicine as well as your DD). If there are any side effects with the medication (for children not on it I mean) I would spell this out to them as well.

Hope you get this sorted out, it's a horrid situation to find yourself in when you can't trust a bloody teacher isn't it?

Original poster
rebl · 14/09/2010 20:24

taintedpaint The school are fully aware of dd's medical issues. They have had a letter both from myself and a neurologist at a regional childrens hospital. They have only ever responded to 1 of the 2 letters and that was with the medicine form to fill in.

OP posts:
taintedpaint · 14/09/2010 20:28

God they're a bit shit then aren't they? I would probably have a bash at organising a sit down meeting with them if they're crap with letters (which seems to be the case).

Best of luck sorting it.