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Primary education

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Original poster

School being a bit casual with regards to dd inhaler and assuming she will ask for it.

82 replies

Snowmaggedon · 02/02/2019 14:31

I've tried to explain this strange thing my dd gets to me the school and obviously it's not sunk in.
I asked them to the other day to give her the inhaler at lunch and they didn't. My dd asked a staff member and they didn't give it.

It's super rare for dd to proactively ask for it as she's not asmatic. It's a strange thing that's happened twice when she's gone down hill fast and immediate rushed through to a and e and strait on nebs and steroids.

How do I make it clear she won't ask usually they need to give it... If I've asked for them too

OP posts:
LIZS · 02/02/2019 14:38

How old is she, can she not have one on her and the schools be a back up?

Smoggle · 02/02/2019 14:43

I think you need a formal meeting to agree a care plan. Follow it up in writing.

AppleDump · 02/02/2019 14:46

Get the school nurse involved and she/he will write up a care plan.

Pud2 · 02/02/2019 16:00

There needs to be a care plan. The school should however have given it if you asked them to and they should definitely have given it to a child who is asking for it.

Original poster
Snowmaggedon · 02/02/2019 16:37

It's a large volumetric thing. She wouldn't know when she needs it. At the moment she thinks it's for when she coughs. She has no link or understanding of the actual breathing issue she has.

There is no school nurse.
What is a care plan.
I may ask them to give it, 9 times a year...

I can't belive they were so causal about it.

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Original poster
Snowmaggedon · 02/02/2019 16:38

She's 6 BTW

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Youmadorwhat · 02/02/2019 16:42

So what are the “signs” that she needs it?? Could you do up an information sheet for her and the school so they know when to administer??

Original poster
Snowmaggedon · 02/02/2019 16:46

Well when we are in the the danger zone.. Ie chesty cough and I can hear slight wheeze at home ill ask school to give inhaler at lunch.

I have also explained what to look for. To the teachers and office. I'm sure I wrote it down once too. Twice they have lost the breather part on the end as well!

OP posts:
Youmadorwhat · 02/02/2019 16:48

@Snowmaggedon how many times a day can it be administered exactly. Do you administer before school and then ask for one at lunch also?

grasspigeons · 02/02/2019 16:53

This isn't good enough.
Ask for a care plan - point out the statutory policy they should have on 'supporting children with medical conditions'
and make sure they understand the risks of not keeping her asthma under control and the affect it will have on attendance.

People are very casual about asthma and don't understand the preventing side of it. They think you only take an inhaler in the middle of a bad attack.

grasspigeons · 02/02/2019 16:55

in terms of school nurse - there wont be one at the school but there will be a 'school nursing team' they do the rising 5 and year 6 health checks and come in for looked after children. You need to their number and contact them. Your GP should be able to put you in touch with them.

Smoggle · 02/02/2019 16:58

There will be a school nurse assigned to the area (they are like Health Visitors).

A care plan is a written agreement on how to manage a child's health needs.

If I was you, I would email the Head with something like: "Serious incident - necessary medication withheld" as the title.
Describe the two incidents - inhaler not given as instructed, inhaler not given to when requested by child.
Point out this is very serious as the consequences could be...
Request an urgent meeting to agree how to move forward so DDs health isn't compromised at school again.
I would also ask if the school nurse needs to attend in order to agree a care plan.

I would try to keep it quite neutral in tone but stress the seriousness of withholding necessary medication from a child with breathing difficulties, and state that you want to ensure everyone can work together to keep DD safe at school.

Yumyumbananas · 02/02/2019 16:59

I’m a teacher. We have an asthma plan for every child with an inhaler provided by their asthma nurse. But you’ve said your child isn’t asthmatic so I’m not sure what you would have to provide....?

Original poster
Snowmaggedon · 02/02/2019 16:59

It's not classified as asthma though.

The lady who didn't pass it on said ' oh I'm not always here'. I assumed she would have written it down and passed it on... This is what worries me!

I don't think it is a medical condition.

I think she could have it loads but obviously she would need hospital if she needs it more than 14 times.

It's just in the nursery they missed it and let her sleep... And by the time I collected her she needed immediate a and e admittance.. Again very casual about it.

One wonders am I going about it the wrong way? A procedure I'm not flowing?
I was thinking of printing a picture of the inhaler device so they know what it looks like as they always loose the mouth, nose part

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Original poster
Snowmaggedon · 02/02/2019 17:01

The nursery is attached to the school by the way. No follow up was done. Her key worker was like... Oh dear a and e well tell her we miss her and get better.

What's wrong with them??

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Smoggle · 02/02/2019 17:03

You sound like you're downplaying it my saying it isn't really asthma, it isn't really a medical condition.

Your child has a medical condition that affects her breathing and has led to A&E admission! You need to be stressing the seriousness.

If you are handing over an inhaler and saying "she's not asthmatic, she has a cough" then the staff are getting the message that it's not serious.

grasspigeons · 02/02/2019 17:04

our care forms say 'has asthma or been prescribed and inhaler by a medical practitioner'

Original poster
Snowmaggedon · 02/02/2019 17:05

@yumyumbananas.

Can you shed light for me Grin

I've personally tried to impress upon her two teachers what to look for.

She goes glassy eyes, quiet, tired, grey under eyes and the big giveaway is sucking in neck and stomach.

I have asked them to look at stomach any time she seems tried or not herself...

That's their proactive side.

Me... I simply tell them when I think signs of potential issues may be there.. And ask for inhaler to be given at lunch.

What else should 8 do?

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AllPizzasGreatAndSmall · 02/02/2019 17:05

It's not as simple as telling them to give it to her if she doesn't ask. Schools are only required to administer medication that is prescribed, according to the dosage and amount of times a day stated, and a record kept.
Inhalers are slightly different because the child usually has access to the inhaler (either kept in the classroom or on their person if they are older)and takes it when they feel they need it.
There will be a school nurse who covers the school, not resident, but they produce the care plans for e.g. children with allergies.

Original poster
Snowmaggedon · 02/02/2019 17:06

True smmogle

But I have said a and e admission... Very serous, down hill quickly etc

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Original poster
Snowmaggedon · 02/02/2019 17:07

So in this type of case...all pizza..

What on earth do I do?

She's 6.and a very young 6.

OP posts:
Smoggle · 02/02/2019 17:08

What else should 8 do?
Formal meeting
Written care plan agreed and signed off with

  • name of condition, symptoms, when and how to give inhaler, when to call parents, when to call 999
Speak to school nurse and get them to give school information & training
Original poster
Snowmaggedon · 02/02/2019 17:10

Ok so I will call gp and ask for school nurse that covers that area. Speak to her.. Explain etc... And she can help me with the school.

I mean my dd pictures is on wall.. Viral wheeze I think it is.. But what use is that if information not passed onto the actual teacher!!

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Original poster
Snowmaggedon · 02/02/2019 17:11

My dd asked a ta for it and she didn't do anything.

Is there a chance the school has no training at all in medial stuff?

OP posts:
Smoggle · 02/02/2019 17:12

In your email I would also ask to be provided with a copy of the incident report when your DD had a hospital admission in nursery due to her symptoms being missed by them.