- A written request must be submitted to the Head Teacher and Clinical Lead for any medications that parents/carers would like to be administered at Gloucester House.
- Medicines should only be taken to school when essential – that is where it would be detrimental to a child’s health if the medicine were not administered during the school day.
- The smallest possible dose should be brought to the school, preferably by the parent/carer, labelled with the name of the pupil in addition to clear written instructions for administration – including any possible side-effects. It is not safe practice for staff managing medicines to follow re-labelled/re-written instructions or to receive and use re-packaged medicines other than as originally dispensed.
- Schools settings should only accept medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor, dentist or nurse prescriber.
- Medications are discussed and agreed initially between parents/carers, case co-ordinator, clinical lead and head teacher. (Template A, B and C Forms Supporting Pupils with medical conditions DoH 2014medication file must be completed prior to commencing administration of medicines).
- Medicines should always be provided in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist and include the prescribers instructions for administration.
- Schools should never accept medicines that have been taken out of the container as originally dispensed nor make changes to dosages on parental instructions.
Storage and administration of medication
- Parents are responsible for their child’s medication, and children who are genuinely unwell should stay at home. Head teachers are responsible for deciding whether the school or college can assist a pupil who needs medication during the school day.
- If in doubt about any procedure, staff should not administer the medicines but check with the parents or a health professional before taking further action.
- No child under 16yrs should be given medicines without their parent’s written consent.
- N.B. Children under 16 should never be given aspirin or medicines containing ibuprofen unless prescribed by a doctor
Safe storage of drugs in schools
The following advice in relation to storage of medication should be adhered to:
- Only prescribed medicines should be brought in.
- Medicines should only be administered where it would be detrimental not to do so.
- Wherever possible children should be allowed to carry their own medicines and devices.
- Schools/colleges should not store large volumes of medication. As far as is practicable, the smallest possible dose of medicine should be brought in. Doses of liquid medicines should not be transferred from the original bottle as this could result in the loss of some of the medicine. Medication should be stored strictly in accordance with product instructions, taking account of the correct storage temperature.
- Pupils should know where their own medication is stored and how to obtain it.
- Medicines should be stored in their original containers, clearly labelled with the name of the pupil, the name and dose of the drug, the frequency of administration, any likely side-effects and the expiry date. Parents are responsible for ensuring that this information is provided.
- Medicines should – subject to the exceptions below – be stored in a secure place such as a locked cupboard or a labelled airtight box in a refrigerator with restricted access.
- Some medicines, such as asthma inhalers and Epipens, must be readily available to pupils and must not be locked away. Those who are capable of carrying their own inhalers should be allowed to do so, following consultation between parents and the head teacher. Generally, it is helpful if the school/college keeps a spare inhaler for that particular child, in case the original is mislaid by the child. Schools/colleges are permitted to hold a spare salbutamol inhaler for emergency use, provided that parental consent has been given for its use in an emergency, should the child’s own inhaler not be available.
- Schools and colleges should not continue to store surplus or out-of-date medicines. Parents should be asked to collect the containers for returning to the chemist and should routinely collect medicines held by the school at the end of each term. If parents do not collect all medicines, they should be taken to a local pharmacy for safe disposal.
- Sharps boxes (obtained by parents on prescription) should always be used for the disposal of needles.
- Local pharmacists can give advice about storing medicines.
- Staff may need to bring their own medication into work. This should be securely stored but does not need to be stored with pupils’ medicines.
Non-prescription medicines
Staff should never volunteer to give non-prescribed medicines to children unless:
- there is specific prior written permission from parents
- it is carried out in accordance with the employer’s policy.
- Medicines are stored in a locked medicine box in the Admin Office until required. Keys to the box are held by the Admin Manager.
Children should know where their medications are stored and who holds the key.
Administration
Any staff member giving medicines to a child should check:
- Child’s Name
- Prescribed Dose
- Expiry Date
- Written instructions provided by the prescriber on the label or container.
- The administration and taking of medication must be given by a nurse, head teacher or another identified trained first aider (List in medication file), and witnessed.
- Medication must be given at the time/s specified by the prescription.
If the child refuses or is not at school that day this must be recorded in the medication file.
Record keeping
- Parents/carers should tell the school about the medicines that their child needs to take and provide details of any changes to the prescription.
- Medications recording file should include details of:
- Name of Child
- Prescriber and who is monitoring
- Name of medicine
- Dose
- Method of administration
- Time/frequency of administration
- Expiry date
- Date
- Name of staff member giving medication
- A record of medication being taken is kept in the medication file in the staff room and updated daily.
Responsibilities
- For details of insurance arrangements see the Trust’s Claims Procedure.
- The Head of service and Medical Director are responsible for putting the Trust’s – Procedures for the Prescribing and Administration of Medication into Practice.
- The Head Teacher and Medical Director are responsible for ensuring that staff receive all necessary support and training re: medication as detailed in Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school (DoH 2014 updated 2017)
- Parents/carer’s are responsible for ensuring that date expired medicines are returned to the pharmacy for safe disposal. They should collect any remaining medicines at the end of each term. Any remaining medicines should be taken to a local pharmacy for safe disposal.
Emergency procedures
- In the event of a medical emergency all staff should know how to call emergency services. All staff should know who is responsible for carrying out emergency procedures. A member of staff should always accompany a child taken to hospital by ambulance, and should stay until the parent/carer arrives. Health professionals are responsible for any decisions on medical treatment when parents or those with PR are not available.
- Staff should not take children to hospital in their own car.
- Individual health care plans should include instructions on how to manage a child in an emergency and identify who has the responsibility in an emergency.