Administration of Medicines Policy

Relationship to School Ethos:

The school promotes positive home-school contacts, not only in relation to the welfare of children, but in relation to all aspects of school life. This policy is in keeping with the school ethos through the provision of a safe, secure and caring school environment and the furthering of positive home-school links.

Aims of this Policy:

The aims and objectives of the policy can be summarised as follows;

Minimise health risks to children and staff on the school premises
Fulfil the duty of the BoM in relation to Safety, Health & Welfare requirements
Provide a framework within which medicines may be administered in cases of emergency or in instances where regularised administration has been agreed with parents/guardians

Rationale:

The policy as outlined was put in place to:

Clarify areas of responsibility
To give clear guidance about situations where it is not appropriate to administer medicines
To indicate the limitations to any requirements which may be notified to teachers and school staff
Safeguard school staff that are willing to administer medication
Protect against possible litigation.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The BoM has overall responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the Administration of Medicines Policy.

The Principal is the day to day manager of routines contained in the policy with the assistance of staff members. The Principal, on behalf of the board, authorises the administration of medication in the school and is obliged to inform the Board of Management annually.

The Assistant Principal 1 is the designated staff member with responsibility for the management of Safety, Health and Welfare inclusive of the maintenance of First Aid supplies and resources and updating staff members on the medical information/needs of pupils.

In-School Procedures:

Medical Information

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are required to complete a Health Information form when enrolling their child/ren in the school. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are requested to;

Provide emergency contact details
Provide relevant medical information pertaining to their child
Inform the school if any medication is required during the school day
Inform the school if any special care is required in the event of an accident or an emergency

According to the information provided, parent(s)/guardian(s) are requested to provide further detailed information (see Appendices) to the school.

This information is used by the designated staff member to prepare a medical Action Plan if necessary. On completion, this document is approved by parent (s)/guardian(s) and medical professional, if necessary.

The Board of Management requests parents to ensure that class teachers be made aware in writing of any medical condition of any child. It is the responsibility of parent(s)/guardian(s) to notify subsequent teachers.

This does not imply a duty upon teachers personally to undertake the administration of medicines or drugs.

Guidelines for the Administration of Medicines

The parents of the pupil with medical needs must inform the school of the condition, giving all the necessary details of the condition. It must also contain written instruction of the procedure to be followed in administering the medication and procedures in the event of an accident or emergency (Appendix 1, 2, 3)
Parents must write requesting the Principal, on behalf of the BoM, to authorise the administration of the medication in school
Parents/Guardians are responsible for ensuring that medication is supplied to the school and replenished when necessary
Emergency medication must have exact details of how it is to be administered
Where necessary, depending on the medication, at the start of each school year the parent(s)/guardian(s) is to speak to their child’s new teacher and SNA about the medication, demonstrate how it is to be administered and provide clear, written instructions of same
A written record of the date and time of administration must be kept by the person administering it (Appendix 4)
Parents are further required to indemnify the Board of Management and members of the staff in respect of any liability that may arise regarding the administration of prescribed medicines in school (Appendix 5)
All correspondence related to the above are kept in the school.

No staff member is obliged to administer medicine or drugs to a pupil and any staff member willing to do so works under the controlled guidelines outlined below:

Teachers have a professional duty to safeguard the safety, health and welfare of pupils, both when they are authorised to be on the school premises and when they are engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere
Prescribed medicines will only be administered after parents of the pupil concerned have requested the Principal, on behalf of the BoM to authorise a member of the teaching staff to do so (Appendix 1)
Non-prescribed medicines be either stored or administered in the school (Exception: Antihistamine is administered to pupils with sever seasonal allergies on request of parent(s)/guardian(s))
Parents will be required to indemnify the BoM and School in respect of any liability arising from the administration of medicines (Appendix 5)
The school generally advocates the self-administration (e.g. inhalers) of medicine under the supervision of a responsible adult, exercising the standard of care of a prudent parent
A small quantity of prescription drugs will be stored in the First Aid Room if a child requires self-administering on a daily basis and parents have requested storage facilities (e.g. medication for anaphylaxis, diabetes, epilepsy)
Parents are responsible for the provision of medication and notification of change of dosage

Medicines

Non-prescribed medicines will not be stored or administered to pupils in school (Exception: Antihistamine is administered to pupils with sever seasonal allergies on request of parent(s)/guardian(s))
Staff members in the school will only administer prescribed medication when arrangements have been put in place as outlined above
Arrangements for the storage of certain emergency medicines, which must be readily accessible at all times, must be made with the designated member of staff
A staff member must not administer any medication without the authorisation of the Principal
The prescribed medicine must be self-administered if possible, under the supervision of an authorised staff member if not the parent
No staff member can be required to administer medicine or drugs to a pupil
In an emergency situation, qualified medical assistance will be secured at the earliest opportunity and the parents contacted using emergency contact details provided
Where possible, the parents should arrange for the administration of prescribed medicines outside of school hours

Long Term Health Issues

Where there are children with long-term health issues in school, It is the responsibility of the parent(s)/guardian(s) to ensure that proper and clearly understood arrangements for the administration of medicines are made with the school according to this policy. . It should include measures such as self-administration, administration under parental/medical professional supervision or administration by school staff.

Life Threatening Conditions

Where children are suffering from life threatening conditions, parents/guardians must clearly outline, in writing, what should be done in a particular emergency situation, with particular reference to what may be a risk to the child (Appendix 3). For anaphylaxis, please see Anaphylaxis Policy. If emergency medication is necessary, arrangements must be made with the Principal, on behalf of the BoM. A letter of indemnity must be signed by the parents in respect of any liability that may arise regarding the administration of medication.

Anaphylaxis

Information collected in this policy (Appendices 1, 2, 3) will be used in the preparation of the school Anaphylaxis Action Plan.

Specific guidelines and information for Anaphylaxis are outlined in our Anaphylaxis Policy.

Emergencies:

In the event of an emergency, teachers should do no more than is necessary and appropriate to relieve extreme distress or prevent further and otherwise irreparable harm.

Qualified medical treatment should be secured in emergencies at the earliest opportunity.

Where no qualified medical treatment is available, and circumstances warrant immediate medical attention, designated staff members may take a child into Accident and Emergency without delay. Parents will be contacted simultaneously.

Where a child has an accident, which is considered serious, an ambulance will be called.

Where a child has an accident, which requires medical attention and where it is safe to move the child, the parents/guardians will be contacted.

Failing that, the child will be taken to the hospital as soon as possible by the Principal/designated staff member. Staff in the school will continue to try and make contact with the parent(s)/guardian(s).

In addition, parents must ensure that teachers are made aware in writing of any medical condition which their child is suffering from. For example, children who are epileptic, diabetic etc. may have a seizure at any time and teachers must be made aware of symptoms in order to ensure that treatment may be given by appropriate persons.

Written details are required from the parents/guardians outlining the child’s personal details, name of medication, prescribed dosage, whether the child is capable of self-administration and the circumstances under which the medication is to be given. Parents should also outline clearly proper procedures for children who require medication for life threatening conditions.

The school maintains, in so far as possible, an up-to-date register of contact details of all parents/guardians including emergency numbers. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are requested to update these details in September of each new school year.

First Aid:

A full medical kit is taken when children are engaged in out of school activities such as tours, football/hurling games and athletic activities
Each teacher is provided with a First Aid bag containing anti-septic wipes, plasters, tissues, gloves. Icepacks (with covers) are available. Topical cream/spray is available for stings and bites
Supplementary First Aid kits/supplies are available at the First Aid Room and in Room 21 (First Aid kit, Eye Wash kit, Burns Kit, Biohazard kit.)
Teacher/SNA on yard duty administers basic first aid i.e., cuts and grazes; cleans would, applies plasters
For head injuries:
- Teachers on yard assess the injury
- Pupil receives a sticker to inform parents ‘I banged my head today’ and the concussion sheet is provided to parents
- If the bump/injury deemed a concern the parent(s)/guardian(s) are phoned to inform. Concussion sheet is provided
- Icepacks with covers are applied after 10-15 mins as per First Aid Training 2022
- In the event of a serious head injury, emergency procedures are followed
In the event of a serious head injury, the situation is assessed, and emergency procedures followed
Defibrillator installed in the school

Recording of Accidents

All yard accidents are recorded in the Yard Book for the class grouping. Serious accidents are recorded in the ‘Incidents and Accidents Book’ in the Principal’s office.

Injuries

Any child coming to school with an injury (e.g. limb in a plaster) is not permitted to take part in yard. Where feasible, the child will sit in a designated safe spot in the yard and will remain seated during yard. Alternatively, the child will remain in the school building under the supervision of a staff member.

Any child coming to school with an injury (e.g. limb in a plaster) is not permitted to take part in P.E. In such instances, the child will sit in a designated safe spot or will remain in the school building under the supervision of a staff member.

General Recommendations:

Any child who shows signs of illness should be kept at home. A child too sick to play with peers should not be in school.

Success Criteria:

The effectiveness of the school policy in its present form is measured by the following criteria:

Compliance with Safety, Health & Welfare legislation
Maintaining a safe and caring environment for children
Positive feedback from parents/teachers
Ensuring the primary responsibility for administering remains with parents/guardians

Ratification and Review:

This policy was ratified by the BoM in June 2021. It was reviewed in February 2023. It will be reviewed in the event of incidents or on the enrolment of child/children with significant medical conditions.

Review: January 2024

Implementation

Chairperson, Board of Management

Principal