Administering Medication
Guidance On Administering Medications In School
In order to comply with Government guidelines on administering medications in school it is necessary to operate the following procedures here at Ormiston Rivers Academy.
Very few medicines need to be taken during school hours and in most cases the appropriate dosage of medicine when prescribed to be taken “three times a day” can be given “before school, after school and at night”.
Medication will not be given to any pupil without the specific written consent of the parent. A request for school staff to administer medicine must be in writing and include evidence that the child needs to take medicine during school hours, e.g. instructions on the container or advice from the pharmacist.
A link to the Administering Medication Parental Consent Form can be found below to assist with this process. Medicines must be in the pharmacist’s original container, clearly labelled with the student’s name and the dosage/instructions. The medicine, together with the completed and signed consent form, should be delivered to school, where possible by a parent/carer and should be handed to Main Reception.
Should you have any concerns or enquiries regarding this then please contact Student Reception via the Contact page.
Emergency Use of Salbutamol Inhalers in Schools
On 1st October 2017 the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017allowed schools to buy salbutamol inhalers, without a prescription, for use in emergencies. The emergency salbutamol inhaler should only be used by children, for whom written parental consent for use of the emergency inhaler has been given, who have either been diagnosed with asthma and prescribed an inhaler, or who have
been prescribed an inhaler as reliever medication. The inhaler can be used if the student’s prescribed inhaler is not available (for example, because it is broken, or empty).
This change applies to all primary and secondary schools in the UK. Schools are not required to hold an inhaler – this is a discretionary power enabling schools to do this if they wish. Schools which choose to keep an emergency inhaler should establish a policy or protocol for the use of the emergency inhaler based on this guidance. Keeping an inhaler for emergency use will have many benefits. It could prevent an unnecessary and traumatic trip to hospital for a child, and potentially save their life. Parents are likely to have greater peace of mind about sending their child to school. Having a protocol that sets out how and when the inhaler should be used will also protect staff by ensuring they know what to do in the event of a child having an asthma attack.
Ormiston Rivers Academy feels that it would be prudent to keep inhalers for emergency use for all students who are diagnosed asthmatic and are prescribed an inhaler to use by their family doctor. The Academy needs to gain parental permission to administer an inhaler in the event of an emergency. Please see a link below to the Emergency Use of Salbutamol Inhaler Parent Consent Form which will need to be completed and returned to Student Reception for us to be able to provide emergency salbutamol if required.
On any occasion when the emergency inhaler is used, you will be notified by the Academy.
Should you have any concerns or enquiries regarding this then please contact Student Reception via the Contact page.
