Administration of Medicines

Administration of Medicines, First Aid and Infectious Diseases Policy

1 Parental responsibility in respect of their child’s medical needs

Parents and carers have the prime responsibility for their child’s health and should provide the school with information about their child’s medical condition, obtaining details from the GP or paediatrician if needed.  The school doctor, nurse or health visitor may also be able to provide information for staff.

Most young people will at sometime have short-term medical needs, for example finishing a course of antibiotics.  Some young people will also have longer term medical needs and may require medicines on a long-term basis such as controlled epilepsy etc. Others may require medicines in particular circumstances, such as those with severe allergies who may need an adrenaline injection.  Young people with severe asthma may have a need for inhalers or additional doses during an attack.

In most cases young people with medical needs can attend school and take part in normal activities, but staff may need to take care in supervising such activities to make sure such young people are not put at risk.  An individual Health Care Plan can help staff identify the necessary safety measures to help support young people with medical needs and ensure that they, and others, are not put at risk.

2 The need for prior written agreement from parents/carers for any medicines to be given to their child

The school must receive a written request from the parent/carer giving clear instructions regarding required dosage for prescription medicine.  The necessary form should be completed by the parent whenever a request is made for medicine to be administered on each and every occasion.  This request should be reviewed termly.  (See Appendix 1 for request form)