Information asked when starting school

[SurreyDad]

Just a quickie - why would a school need to know the details of a child's GP? And when might a school actually use that information?

Well, we aren't allowed to take any child on a residential trip without details of their GP, it is part of the health risk form and if it isn't completed, they don't go.

I'm not sure they would be suspicious exactly.
But they would probably require clarification about what you would want them to do in the event of an emergency, and possibly have a letter from you on their records specifically stating you are withholding the information (so they don't get blamed for an administrative omission in the event that the GP data is needed but not available).

Does your child belong to any clubs or take part in any activities? There is always a request for GP contact details on the application forms.

Suspicious of what?
There are a few children whose records don't have the doctor's info on them (usually because they had recently moved to the area when they joined the school and didn't have one yet and the parents have never updated) As far as I know we haven't loosed Social Services onto them....

Rusty - like I said, you feel awkward asking these questions. Perhaps that's why they should automatically tell you what they do with the information? I'm sure it would be used for child protection too if necessary.

Piprabbit - its not a case of not trusting them, more a case of not giving out personal information. But if hospitals need it because of a defective NHS database, then fair enough. But they should tell people that!

I assume your child is registered with a GP so medical information would be available to the school nurse

But would a school nurse not require parental consent before obtaining such information if they wanted to remain on the NMC register?

The IKEA Smaaland (sp? can't be arsed looking it up) creche place even asks you for your dc's GP.

Don't know why they do either but I can't see any possible way that the information could be misused so I didn't kick up a fuss about it.

Have you asked them?

The school nurse is supposed to take over from where the HV leaves off. I can understand you wanting to protect privacy (just) but what on earth is the problem with giving out your doctor's name and address? You will soon become used to the school having all sorts of information about your child's educational progress, most of which they will share with you. Learn to pick your battles. Your doctor's name won't be a priority.

I'm sorry SurreyDad but you are coming across as very cagey
A school nurse will normally hold a lot of information about a child as part of her role as a medical professional without breaking any rules.

Believe it or not your child may not be the only one with that name.
You have to give the name of gp a thousand times over. Every time your child goes on school trip, brownies/rainbows/cub etc etc. Get used to people asking for basic info about your child.
No a school nurse doesnt need parents permission to access info about your child.
Your school will be the site for basic health checks over the years. Hearing, eyes, height, weight. The only one they dont do which they should do is the nit inspection.

I suppose if you are the type of person who has chosen not to immunise your child and could bring a potential measles outbreak to the school then, yup, you might be suspicious about them wanting to be able contact your GP.

Perhaps the best thing to do would be to ask your Local Authority.

mrz - how am I being cagey? I've explained my reasons for wanting to know. And I would think and expect a school nurse will only hold information with parental knowledge and consent. It would go against NHS and NMC rules to do so, as well as be illegal under the DPA. Once you've given permission for her or him to hold that information, then that would include permission for them to access it.

I think but I could be wrong but when you send your child to school they then have duty of care during school hours and the school nurse is covered under that umbrella.

Can I ask are you a health care professional?

Also I opted out of the database but do not remember being asked about the children so I assumed that they were not included any way.
I can assure that the NHS database is a very long way from being ready or even half active in most regions, so I would'nt rely upon the hospital getting info in an emergency from it.

surreydad - you are exactly the sort of parent that makes teachers want to weep! what do you think the school is going to do with the info?? release onto the internet/publis in the local newspaper that you went to see the GP about bedwetting?
FFS it is all about protecting your child and nothing to do with anything else.
If you really have such a problem do us ALL a favour and he your kid

Well said.

The NHS database has been running for about 6 years. Your children are on it - you are not asked if you wish to opt them out - you have to be proactive and tell them. I'm talking about the database rather than the care record. The semi-secret one they don't tell people about.

What makes you think I might be a HCP?

People change docs all the time. Your records could be at one docs but you have registered at a new one. Its never crossed my mind. Every school trip form i fill out i have to put doctors details on.

Because most normal people dont have a clue about professional bodies unless they are a memebr or have a reason to know? Thats all.

Why do I cause teachers to want to weep? Because I am concerned and want an answer to a simple question? Perhaps it would be better to leave the teachers to do all the work of bringing up a child?

I had to fill in guide forms and on three separate forms I had to put exactly the same info. Nightmare.

SurreyDad, I reiterate, pick your battles. There will be many, much more important things to worry about during your child's life.

I'm not sure that passing on your child's GP practice information to their school could really be described as leaving teachers to do all the work of bringing up a child, but since you have concerns about why schools collect this information, perhaps it would be simplest to ask the Local Authority to explain what they hold and why.

When the child starts school you get a pack about who holds what infomation about your child and why