If pupils need to take their own medicines it is essential that these are accompanied by written permission and instructions from the parent/guardian and/or GP, specifying the medication involved, circumstances under which it should be administered, frequency and levels of dosage.
Parents/guardians should hand over medicines to the appropriate member of staff so that they may be stored safely. The medicine should be delivered in a secure and labelled container as originally dispensed and should only be given to the named child.
Members of school staff cannot be required to administer non-emergency medication. But where staff undertake to administer medication, they must adhere to the school's policy and must be trained to a standard recognised by the Local Health Trust.
It is also essential that a minimum of two members of staff are authorised to administer medication and staff should be allocated to individual cases, as appropriate. To avoid the risk of double dosing of medication, the administration of medication should be routinely entered into the Drug Record Book/Medication Administration Records file.
If parents/guardians consider that their child is capable and responsible, then a child should look after their own inhaler. Otherwise it should be kept safely and the child should have immediate access to it. It is not recommended that inhalers should be locked up.
For further information, contact us using the details on the right.