We have had a particularly high number of requests for the administration of non-prescription medicines this week as many children are struggling with hayfever. In the past we have been unable to accept responsibility for these. However, we have recently updated our medicines policy. The policy now reflects the fact that for many common illnesses, parents are directed to get over the counter medicines by doctors as opposed to getting prescribed medication.

You can read the full policy here: 

Microsoft Word - schools-medicine-policy (primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com)

A few points to note from the policy:

Over the Counter Medicine (e.g. Hayfever Remedies)

These should be accepted only in exceptional circumstances, and be treated in the same way as prescribed medication. The parent / carer must clearly label the container with child’s name, dose and time of administration and complete a consent form. 

The parent / carer needs to ensure there is sufficient medication and that the medication is in date. The parent / carer must replace the supply of medication at the request of relevant school/health professional. Medication should be provided in the original container with the following, clearly shown on the label:

 Name and strength of medication

 Dose

 Expiry dates whenever possible

Self-Management

Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own medicine from an early age. A good example of this is children keeping their own asthma reliever.