Free Calpol from GP?

chickywiggle

what a silly childminder - mine is more then happy to give over counter stuff.

i asked for some at my sons last injections in a "i know i'm being cheeky but........." way, got 2x small paracetamol suspension (calpol) and 1x ibuprofen. I wouldn't ask everytime i ran out but perhaps once a year if he ever needs to go for anything.

perhaps this guidance will help you.....http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/30DB8FE1-C39E-44A5-914F-EE3CAE1B96D0/96954/Administrationofmedicationinchildcare1.pdf i thinkshe is reading "prescription" but n ot readiung the definition.

Toothsmith

bylromarha wrote: »

........... he'll be unable to have it as the Dr has changed their mind about issuing.

You seem to know the OFSTED recommendations well.

What I'm telling you are the Drs guidelines for ethical prescribing.

The Drs probably haven't 'changed their minds', they've probably just realised they'd be in serious trouble if they're found to be prescribing medicine on the NHS for people who have no illness.

I appreciate the fact that the prescribing guidelines and OFSTED guidelines don't neatly dovetail, but ultimately the only person who can be FULLY responsible for a childs health and wellbeing is a parent or legal guardian.

We have got into this situation through people getting medicine from Drs then using it irresponsibly (Getting it 'just in case', but then using it on a condition for which it was inappropriate), or through schools giving medicines to kids and missing the fact that the kid had something much more serious.

In both cases schools or Drs would be wide open for legal action (With, of course, parents saying " it's not about the money, we want to be sure this can never happen to another child")

Well, now we're here. It can never happen to another child, because the only way kids with minor ailments can be medicated is by Mum or Dad having a day off work, and giving it to them themselves.

But, of course, the safety of children MUST be our highest priority. :undecided

choccymoose

Ask your childminder to check that she has the revises May 2008 version of the Statoury guidance (ignore spelling please) in the first version it did state i believe that medication had to be prescribed, the may 2008 version does not and this is why Ofsted published the above document to clarify things

brook2jack

The change in your gps prescribing policy is probably nothing to do with them. Pcts regularly audit prescribing patterns and send out advisory letters if you are deemed to be prescribing too much or ill advisidly.

In wales prescriptions are free and this has seen a massive increase in prescribing of medicines that are cheaply available over the counter as patients "demand" scripts for calamine lotion,paracetamol etc. This has lead to a massive overspend in the budget which has to be clawed back from other areas in the health boards budget. All of us are having our prescriptions closely monitored.

bylromarha

chickywiggle wrote: »

what a silly childminder - mine is more then happy to give over counter stuff..

No need for rudeness It's actually extremely sensible. As Toothsmith describes, people looking after children who aren't theirs are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

xycom1

Speak to the pharmacist; I for one would be more than happy to label your calpol purchase with your child's name if there is a good reason for it - I guess this would be good enough for the childminder?

silvercar

bylromarha wrote: »

Schools aren't even allowed to issue Dr issued medication with clear instructions. I'm having to go in every day next week at 11am to rub cream on my sons finger as it needs to be done 4 times a day and school are not allowed to issue medicines, Dr prescribed or not.

SOunds like a school policy rather than OFSTED instructions. My son's school will happily give prescribed medicine during the school day.

Toothsmith

silvercar wrote: »

SOunds like a school policy rather than OFSTED instructions. My son's school will happily give prescribed medicine during the school day.

But you are describing a medicine prescribed for a specific problem or condition.

Not a bottle of medicine obtained from a Dr for an as yet unsuffered problem.

What if a kid had a headache? School gives him a dose from the bottle of Calpol (which just happens to be there 'in case' kid has a problem) And 2 ours later he's dead from meningitis? School is in deep do-do, and so would be the Dr for 'blind' prescribing.

That is a totally different situation to a school having an inhaler for Johnny's asthma, or some antibiotics for Chardonnay's earache.

Jewelleryfan

This is what i have experienced -

My Mum has been a childminder for 20 odd years and used to call the parents to get permission and they would sign a form when they collected the child.

When i was a nanny i called the parents to get permission but nothing was written down.

I'm now a pre-school/nursery teacher and we call parents for permission and then they sign a medicine form when they collect. Each child brings in their own bottle which we keep in their basket. It only has to have their name etc if its medicine from the doctor or a puffer etc.

Saying that my friends son tends to get convulsions and fits and they were not allowed to give him calpol, even though without it he could have died. My friend had to rush from work to the school and give it to him. She had even written a letter saying to give it to him but they couldnt.

I guess it depends on the place and situation.

silvercar

Toothsmith wrote: »

But you are describing a medicine prescribed for a specific problem or condition.

Not a bottle of medicine obtained from a Dr for an as yet unsuffered problem.

What if a kid had a headache? School gives him a dose from the bottle of Calpol (which just happens to be there 'in case' kid has a problem) And 2 ours later he's dead from meningitis? School is in deep do-do, and so would be the Dr for 'blind' prescribing.

That is a totally different situation to a school having an inhaler for Johnny's asthma, or some antibiotics for Chardonnay's earache.

Actually at my son's school the nurse will issue paracetamol tablets on a child's request. Parents were asked to sign if they wanted this facility when the children started school. It is secondary school, so the children are from age 11 up.