Administration of Medicines

POLICY DOCUMENT: NO. 6.

ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES TO CHILDREN

Guidelines for members.

As a general rule, staff members should not be involved in the administration of medication to pupils. In exceptional circumstances, where a staff member agrees to become involved in the administration of medication, the INTO advises that:

1. The parent(s) of the pupil concerned should write to the Board of Management requesting the Board to authorise a staff member to administer the medication.

2. The request should also contain written instructions of the procedure to be followed in administering the medication

3. The Board of Management, having considered the matter, may authorise a teacher to administer medication to a pupil. If the staff member is authorised she/he should be properly instructed by the Board of Management

4. A staff member should not administer medication without the specific authorisation of the Board.

5. In administering medication to pupils, staff members should exercise the standard of care of a reasonable and prudent parent.

6. The Board of Management should inform the school’s insurers accordingly

7. The Board of Management should seek an indemnity from the parent(s) in respect of a liability that may arise regarding the administration of the medication.

Note: Where the above procedure is put in place the Board of Management should give consideration to authorising another member of staff to administer the medication in the event that the regular teacher is absent from school. The Board of Management should also make arrangements for the safe storage of the medication.

                                             LETTER OF INDEMNITY

THIS INDEMNITY made BETWEEN ________________________________ the (lawful

father and mother) of _______________ (herein after called ‘the parents’) of the One Part

AND ______________________________________________________________________

on behalf of the Board of Management of St. Columba’s B.N.S. Douglas (hereinafter called

the Board of the Other Part.

WHERE AS:

1. The parents are respectively the lawful father and mother of _______________________, a pupil of the above school.
2. The pupil suffers on an on-going basis from the condition known as: _________________
3. The pupil may, while attending the above school, require, in emergency circumstances, the administration of medication, (name of medicine, exact dosage and explicit instructions to be written in full and inserted here.) Any change of medicine/ dosage must be recorded, witnessed and signed in the section labelled amendments below:

4. The parents have agreed that the said medication may, in emergency circumstances, be administered by the said pupil’s classroom teacher and /or such other member of staff of the said school as may be designated from time to time by the Board.

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED by and between the parties hereto as follows:

In consideration of the board entering into the within Agreement, the parents, as the lawful mother/father respectively of the said pupil HEREBY AGREE to indemnify and keep indemnified the board, its servants and agents including without prejudice to the generality the said pupil’s class teacher and /or the Principal of the said school from and against all claims, both present and future, arising from the administration or failure to administer the said medicines.

IN WITNESS whereof the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals the day and year first herein WRITTEN.

SIGNED AND SEALED by the parents in the presence of:

SIGNED AND SEALED by the said in presence of:

• This policy was completed and made ready for the school plan on November 2010
• This policy was ratified at a meeting of the Board of Management of St. Columba’s B.N.S. on 22^nd November 2010
• This policy document is available upon request from the school office.
• This policy was discussed at a staff meeting on December 3^rd 2010; staff were advised to familiarise themselves with the policy document.
• This policy document will be updated as necessary. All amendments/additions will be recorded below.
• Date for review: School Year: 2012-2013