Medicines Administered in Nurseries/Schools

non-prescription (OTC) medication does not need a GP signature/authorisation in order for the school/nursery/childminder to give it

It has been brought to the attention of the Clinical and Prescribing Subcommittee that the revised 'The Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework', which governs the standards of institutions looking after and educating children, includes a paragraph under specific legal requirements - medicines, that states: 'Medicines should only be taken to a setting when this is essential and settings should only accept medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist.' We are aware that in some areas this is resulting in parents making unnecessary appointments to seek a prescription for an OTC medicine, just so it can be taken in nurseries or schools.

The Clinical and Prescribing Subcommittee wishes to remind GPs that the MHRA licenses medicines and classifies them when appropriate as OTC (P or GSL). This is to enable access to those medicines without recourse to a GP. It is appropriate for OTC medicines to be given by parents, as they consider necessary, in the home or nursery environment. It is a misuse of GP time to take up an appointment just to acquire a prescription for a medicine, wholly to satisfy the needs of a nursery/school. The Clinical and Prescribing Subcommittee wrote to the Department of Children, Schools and Families seeking an amendment to this paragraph in the Statutory Framework and we have now heard from that Department. They will amend their guidance to stay consistent with current national standards for day care and childminding, whereby non-prescription medication can be administered where there is parents' prior written consent. Should any practice find that this continues to be a problem in their area can you please let us know, so that we can send a copy of the letter from the Department of Children, Schools and Families, which clarifies this situation, to the parents, school or nursery concerned.