Medication at school

[rebl]

Can a school refuse to administer longterm medication that if not given would result in the child's health and attendance being significantly affected?

You could try putting this in the education section too as its a bit of a busier section.

I dont know the answer, though our school will administer life saving things (like DS's Epipen or his asthma inhaler) but they wont let the children have hayfever medication at school.

I know I a Mum who has been going into school every lunchtime for 3 years to administer her childs medication. Although she has been trying to train him to do it himself. I know school won't do it but then again our HT is particularly jobsworth.
Sorry thats probably not the answer you wanted

If the school aren't playing abll, contact the school nurse or Dr who will put in place a care plan.
The are probabily just arse covering.
DS2's school administer all sorts of medication.

I meant ball

anon how do I find out who the school nurse is and how to make contact with them?

Schools should have a health plan for children with medical needs which the school nurse is involved in writing. Staff may ask to be trained on administering meds before doing it though.

Ask the school for the number for the school nurse - ours are all in a central office with each nurse covering a different area.

here looks like a member of staff has to volunteer to do it unless someone is specially employed for this purpose. The school office should tell you who the nurse is for the school or ring the lea or sometimes the hv knows.

Rebl - I think, given all the problems you have been having you should talk to parent partnership. I'm fairly sure they'll be able to answer this question properly.

IndigoBell A friend has suggested I call them as well. Will do in the morning. I've decided not to send the medicine into school for the rest of the week and I will administer to dd when I collect ds at lunchtime.

DS is currently destroying upstairs as clearly been overloaded again today and I've given up. DH is there trying his best to keep him safe.

This can't all continue. We've reached breaking point and tbh if either child asks not to go to school tomorrow I will be sorely tempted to keep them off.

rebl - you should of cuorse do whatever it takes to feel your dd's needs are being met.

but be careful not to fall into the trap of doing it yourself for too long. this suits the school, and they will be keen for you to do this, but it is not your problem.

you dd, by law, needs to be in school (well, this might not apply, depending on her age, I suppose)

and she needs medication.

the school has a duty to come up with the solution.

Here In a Nutshell:

Teachers don't have to administer medications, and it is a purely voluntary undertaking.

HOWEVER

If the elect to do so, they have to do so responsibly, and they can be held responsible for errors, etc., although they would be protected by vicarious liability in conjunction with their employment by the LA.

I think Lougle is right, but someone earlier said nurse should be involved in the writing of Health Plan, I wrote the Health plan for my ds, with minimal input from the SENCO, nurse hadn't even heard of ds's condition, so was no use. It will probably depend on nature of the medication how keen an individual is to do it, if it is just basic pain relief they might be more enthusastic about taking on the responsibility. School secretary should be able to tell you who school nurse is, and they should be in school at some point this term to start completing school entry checks....what a waste of public money they are.

surely, though, there must be precedent for children on long-term medication?

what if both parents have to work full time?

wuold this be a case for getting a statement on medical grounds?

silverfrog this is kind of what I'm wondering. If she doesn't get given the medication she will be unable to attend school, she'll be too ill. End off. I can't be going in everyday at lunchtime. I need to get a job, its getting vital I get a job for both my mental health and our household finances. Whats so silly is its only 1 dose of 1 medicine. Its not rocket science.

I can't imagine we could get her a statement, she's been in school just 10 half days and already reading! So the pushing of children going on in that school might be seriously disturbing my ds but my dd is thriving with it!!

but rebl, statements are not just for educational need.

well, they are, but not just because of Learning disability, if you like.

you can have a statement written purely for physical disability - so i don't see why not for a medical disability.

if the school cannot work this out, and you have a job, then it means your dd is being denied access to school.

My wee boy has meds every day in school. I just had to complete a form stating what meds and what time and detail other eds whihc would be as required and what situation would mean that med was required.

I give his meds already drawn up in a syringe( for G-tube not injection) and they give it. He does have full time 1-1 and needs tube feeding at school too so maybe that different.

However although them giving the meds the way they do suits me, I'm sure they are working outside policy. I'm sure in terms of health and safety they should draw up the meds fro the bottle themselves to be sure what they are giving, after all I could put anything in the syringe ( for G tube , not injection). I personally wouldn't be happy with them measuring out the meds in case they get it wrong.

Good luck

Sharon x

We've made a decision that as of tomorrow our dd will not be getting her mid-day dose. I will call the GP and get an appointment ASAP to see if the missed dose can be split over the other 2 doses. I will call the neurologist as well and see if I can get a message through to him to call me. I can't live with the risk. This medicine will kill a child and its been in childrens hands twice in 2 days. The school clearly can't be trusted. I can't risk it. I would rather my dd was ill and had poor attendance than continue with the risk the school seem happy to take.

rebl, would you be comfortable naming the medicine on this thread? I am a nurse, so could have a check of the medication and give you an idea of what could be done, dosage wise.

Just to clarify - I know you would also need to visit GP - internet not a substitute for RL

Propranonol.

Of course Lougle .

My other option is off course to keep her off school until this is sorted by either the school, GP or neurologist. That way I'm not messing with her dosing schedule.

Ah, well that will be why, then. Propanolol has a really short half-life, 3-6 hours. Which means that the effects of a larger split dose am/pm would be that she would get more 'peaks and troughs' of plasma concentration throughout the day. Giving it 3 times per day keeps a steady plasma concentration.

There are other beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs, and they all have slightly different properties. I take them for migraine, and have worked my way through propanolol, onto Metoprolol.

You may find that you can either alter the timings, to am, straight after school, then slip the last dose in around 10pm, as it is only 0.5ml (very little risk of choking even if she is asleep).

The Neuro might be able to switch beta-blocker to one that has a slightly longer half-life, allowing an am/pm dosing schedule though.

Rebl- I would keep her off school rather than have her missing her medication. And tell the school that you are keeping her at home untill this can all be properly sorted.

Then they will have to do something.

And I'm almost positive you can get a statement for this.

Ring Parent Partnership! But her medication is surely more important than a few days of reception....