Administration of Medicines
POLICY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES
Aims?X That pupils with medical needs should receive proper care and support in school.
?X That staff, parents and pupils should understand the procedures in respect of administering medicines.
Procedures for managing prescription medicines which need to be taken during the school day
?X Medicines may only be brought into school when essential and where it would be detrimental to a child・s health if the medicine were not administered during the school day.
?X There will be 2 members of staff present when medicines are administered and each will sign to say that they have witnessed the medicine being given.
?X Controlled drugs will be kept in a lockable, non-portable container in the school office.
?X All medicines will be returned to the parents, when no longer required, for safe disposal. If this is not possible, they will be returned to the dispensing pharmacist.
Procedures for managing prescription medicines on trips and outings
?X There will be 2 members of staff present when the medicines are administered and each will sign to say that the medicine has been given.
?X The medication will be carried by a member of staff in the first aid bag, in a separate labeled package.
Roles and responsibilities of staff
?X Any member of staff may administer the prescribed medicines.
?X Staff must ensure that no medicines are received into school without the necessary paperwork being completed.
?X Staff must ensure that the medicine is clearly labeled with the correct child・s name and the dosage is indicated.
?X Staff may not administer medicines containing aspirin or ibuprofen unless prescribed by a doctor.
?X If a child refuses to take medicine, staff should not force them, but should record the fact in writing as well as inform the parent the same day.
Parental responsibilities
?X Parents must provide full details about their child・s medical needs, including details of what constitutes an emergency and what action school staff should take in an emergency.
?X Parents must consult a medical practitioner (doctor, dentist, nurse prescriber) so as to acquire the prescribed medication for their child and advice must be sought as to the suitability of the child returning to school whilst under medication.
?X Parents must provide the school with the appropriate medication in its original packaging, as dispensed by a pharmacist, clearly labeled with the child・s name; the label must include the prescriber・s instructions for administration.
?X In the case of inhalers, parents must agree in writing if their child is to be allowed to manage their inhaler without supervision (Form 3A).
?X Parents must come to school to administer medicines themselves if they have not completed the necessary forms.
Written agreement required from parents
?X For each medicine to be administered, parents must complete Forms 3A and 3B and return them to school prior to the commencement of the treatment. These forms indicate the dose to be given and the frequency.
The circumstances in which children may take any non-prescription medicines
?X Staff may not administer non-prescribed medicines without the written permission of the parents.
Children carrying and taking their medicines themselves
?X Where appropriate, pupils will be encouraged to take responsibility to manage their own medicines, once they are considered old enough/responsible enough to do so. Such pupils may look after their own inhaler, but not controlled drugs.
Staff training on dealing with medical needs
?X All staff who have individual responsibility for pupils at any time during the school day will receive necessary specialist training on the administration of medicines (e.g. use of ．epi-pen・).
Record keeping
?X A written record will be made of each administration of medicines, with 2 members of staff signing. This record will be kept with the medicine itself.
Storage of medicines
?X Controlled drugs will be kept in a lockable, non-portable container in the school office.
?X In the case of inhalers, pupils may carry their own once they are considered old enough/responsible enough to do so.
This policy will be reviewed every 2 years, or more frequently if legislation changes.
AA
January 2007 Back to top
