Considering not sending ds on residential trip next week.

[DishwasherDogs]

I was going to post this in chat, but thought that here more posters would understand about ds not advocating for himself.

Ds has been having problems with his asthma since December, he's been to the GP so many times it's ridiculous, and because he presents with a cough rather than wheezing (never one to be straightforward), has come away with antibiotics and assurances that it will go away.

Last week I managed to contact the asthma nurse at hospital, who is amazing. He has changed ds's inhaler, will go into school to show them what to do.

The new inhaler could take up to 2 weeks to work properly, and ds is still coughing.

When I ask at school for ds to have his inhalers at a certain time, they are rarely given. Ds will not ask for it, even if he needs it, because he is the only one who uses an inhaler regularly, so looks different (which is a massive issue to ds, and is a work in progress). If the teacher told him to use it, he would.

So the trip next week, over an hour's drive away, ds still coughing, needing to be fully supervised taking his inhalers at regular intervals, and dh and I are very concerned.
When it comes to it, I don't trust the staff to make sure ds has his inhalers correctly and at the right times, and I can't rely on ds asking if he needs them. I also can't rely on the teaching staff to recognise that a cough is actually asthma.
He's been regularly missing doses during the school day, and comes out coughing more (I have been in so many times but not got anywhere, hence the asthma nurse going in), so is needing more inhalers in the evening and through the night. Potentially, missing inhalers over three days could be serious.

Obviously, the new inhaler may be working by then, in which case I'm worrying over nothing.

Because ds looks fine at school, I get the impression that the teachers think I'm overprotective, as I'll go in to try to work out issues that they can't see (but that ds comes home and has meltdowns about), so this is going to look like the ultimate in overprotectiveness!

Sorry, this is very long, but I'd appreciate any thoughts and suggestions.
and for getting this far!

Can the asthma nurse go in and tell them the risks that they are taking if they fail to give the medication? You know that asthma can have very severe consequences and so does she.

Could she help you draw up a time table for the medication and train up one or two people to initial and put in the time taken as evidence that it has been taken on time?

Your dc should not have to excluded because of staff incompetence - it would be disability discrimination, and nor should something so basic be beyond people who have passed teacher training.

And make it clear that if that if they screw up they can be reported eg by you, up the chain, disciplined and their careers damaged for evermore (except I always write ever so nicely saying 'I'm sure you will be very keen to get this right for dc and understand that this is a health and safety requirement, but all the same it will be important to show that this is done exactly by correctly as breaches of health and safety are taken very seriously if the authorities hear of them').

Good Luck

Oh, and as an optional extra idea - would it work to tell dc that he has to take it at the set times or he could cause them to lose their jobs?

And then you could also say to the teachers (in front of whoever you like) that you are sure dc will be helpful about taking it on time as you have told him that they could lose their jobs if he doesn't take it on time.

If you were up to being really 'helpful' you could draft the relevant bits of the risk assessment for them and send them along to be included. They might actually be genuinely grateful for that.

Thank you senvet :)

As far as I'm aware that's what the asthma nurse is doing, but i am going to ring him today to ask for advice about this.

I've tried asking for a timetable during a normal school day, but it involves me letting them know when he needs inhalers (last year up until December he rarely needed it) but I get blank looks and "but he didn't ask for it" and "he's quite capable of telling us that he needs it" even though he won't, as it's different. (On the plus side though, in this school he will wear a coat and jumper, as everyone else does)

Ds wouldn't care if I told him his teacher's jobs could be affected.
We are working on him understanding that asthma is serious and he needs to tell someone if he needs his inhaler, but we're not there yet.

Re. risk assessment, do you mean I should write one for him? Or would this be covered by the school's risk assessment for the trip?

On risk assessment, what is concerning me (and you) is that they have not given sufficient weight to the risk, and not sorted a proper regime.

So yes, do you know how to do it? You measure the risk - so death gets eg 5 and a slight bruise gets eg 1 and you have to draft lots of stuff about what you will do to reduce the risk. You can check on the net which way round the numbers go.

I think if you go for medication at set times rather than 'as needed' then they will get it better that it is their duty to administer it whether it is asked for or not.

Dd1 had unstable asthma as a child and she also presented with a barking cough!

We had a mix of experiences with school, when she went away with anyone I used to send a laminated medicines schedule with her.

I am very anal so used to colour code the instructions the same colours as her inhalers, she had purple, blue,orange, green and brown over the yrs!

I did used to go into school with the schedule the week before the trip to speak to which ever teacher was taking responsibility for first aid/medications!

I wouldnt dream of telling you whether your Ds should go or not, I know I would be struggling too

Good luck whatever you decide

Thank you senvet, that makes sense. In a former life I wrote risk assessments regularly, but my brain has shrunk since then!

Ineed, I will do that (any excuse to dig out the sharpies and laminator)

Polter, I'm learning fast that the world is full of fools who know best. Nothing's straight forward.
I like the idea of the watch, and I think it would appeal to ds's gadgety side, thank you for the link.

I spoke to someone at school today who has reassured me how good they are with dealing with conditions such as asthma . I did point out that the last three months haven't done anything to reassure me that ds is in good hands.
I've spoken to a nurse at the outpatient's clinic, who has agreed that ds will have to dramatically improve before he is allowed to go, she has also sent a message to the asthma nurse, who will hopefully ring me today or tomorrow.

fingers and toes crossed for you and dc

I've spoken to the asthma nurse, who again has been amazing, put my mind completely at ease and has set out an inhaler timetable for everyone to follow.

School has given me a form which they will sign every time ds has his inhaler.

Ds slept through last night without needing his inhaler for the first time in a couple of weeks, so hopefully his new inhaler is starting to work.
Fingers crossed it's all looking ok and he'll be able to go!

Thank you all for not piling in and telling me I'm being precious

I have also made laminated, colour coded instruction sheets. Just cutting them out now and noticed I have managed to laminate some grated cheese. I won't send that bit! :o

I am laminating any minute now and will have a good chuckle thinking of your cheese

So glad dc is better

Glad you've sorted it. I was going to say draw up a care plan, state clearly at what times DS needs his inhalers and get staff and him to sign it when they are given. Purely because if you don't trust them you know that's hes actually had it.

My friends DD had cough asthma. She literally just coughs continously for about 3 months of the year. She is fine the rest of the time. It's awaful that no one recognises it for what it actually is. I think some people think getting an inhaler from a gp is easy - they ought to try it sometime

He's gone! Went this morning, had a flap about it in the car then marched off into school cool as a cucumber and didn't look back.
Everyone else had their dc coming back to them for a last hug, ds didn't even wave!
Pleased he's gone happily though, and his cough is improving, which is a relief :)

He's back, no quirks seen.
He was lovely and calm until I wouldn't let him play on an Xbox game (that he has never been allowed to play on) and has punched and slapped me on the back and arm, which feel bruised and thrown anything he can get his hands on. :(
I don't wish that he'd do that at school, because that would add to the problems, but it wish they could see something!
He was talking to a TA before he saw me, and was talking in his weird, stilted baby voice, and holding his hands in a mid-flap position, but no, no-one can see anything

Glad he had a good time.

It's hard with the not seeing - you know when it's right there in front of their face it's actually not recognising! Which, imo, is poor and indicates a lack of training.

Although be grateful - When DS went on residential they did see the home side of them. Whilst it's good in one way it doesn't feel great in others iyswim.

Hope his asthma is ok?

It's really improved, thank you :)

well done mini-dish for getting the residential trip done.

What is good for dcs is often bad for getting help and vice versa.

Glad the asthma is getting better

Glad he was able to go in the end dish but sorry to here of your struggles both with him and his school!!

Its so hard when you see stuff right under their noses but they dont notice isnt it!!

Keep going and good luck