Procedures for the Management of Pupils with Healthcare Needs in Educational Establishments
These resources have been prepared by the City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian to assist schools in meeting the healthcare needs of pupils. It is also the documentation in use in all East Lothian Schools.
It should be read in conjunction with Appendix 23, Arrangements for Medication, Healthcare Programmes and Clinical Tests: Health and Safety Guidelines for Heads of Establishments HSP4 (December 2019). By working in partnership with parents/carers, pupils and health professionals, schools will be able to support pupils who have healthcare needs in a safe, efficient and secure environment. This includes pupils who require medication during school time. These procedures are carried out by school staff who have access to clear instructions and appropriate training.
Request for school to issue non-prescribed medication in school
EL Appendix 3, Form 1 Request for school to issue non-prescribed medication in school (1)
Request for school to issue short term prescribed medication in school
EL Appendix 4, Form 2 Request for school to issue short term prescribed medication in school.docEL
Request for school to issue long term prescribed medication in school.
EL Appendix 5, Form 3 Request for school to issue longterm prescribed medication in school.doc
Request for school to issue long term ‘as required’ prescribed medication in school.
School Healthcare Plan; Short-term healthcare not requiring medication in school
Guidance on specific healthcare needs. Including Care plans.
Allergies
The parent/carer of the pupil should be advised in the school handbook and enrolment form that they should notify the school that the pupil has an allergy.
Allergies :School Healthcare Plan
For pupils who have been diagnosed with an allergy by their G.P. but have not required to attend the allergy clinic at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Form 4: Request for school to issue long-term ‘as required’ prescribed medication in school should be completed along with an individualised Symptom and Action Flowchart for Allergic Reaction NOT Including an Adrenaline Pen and a supply of the antihistamine prescribed by the G.P. given to the school. Non-prescription antihistamines are not administered by education staff.
For pupils who have been newly diagnosed with a severe allergy at the allergy clinic at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, a School Healthcare Plan will be completed by the consultant/specialist allergy nurse. This School Healthcare Plan should be given to the school with a supply of the prescribed medication. Children should be reviewed at the Allergy Clinic before starting primary school or transferring to secondary school. At these reviews, an updated School Healthcare Plan will be completed by clinic staff.
For pupils with severe allergies, diagnosed at a hospital allergy clinic who
- move into the area from out with the City of Edinburgh or
- are not due to be reviewed for some time and do not have a School Healthcare Plan in place
Form 9: School Healthcare Plan – Severe Allergies should be completed. The school nurse service can facilitate the completion of the plan if required.
All School Healthcare Plans should be reviewed every year.
Eczema
Notification
The parent/carer of the pupil should be advised in the school handbook and enrolment form that they should notify the school that the pupil has eczema.
School Health Care Plan
Pupils who have mild eczema will not require a written School Health Care Plan. However most pupils with eczema should have an emollient (moisturiser) applied with/without help. In this case parents/carers should complete Form 3: Request for school to issue long-term prescribed medication in school. If a pupil has severe eczema Form 9: School Healthcare Plan – Eczema (Appendix 15) should be completed.
Notification
The parent/carer of the pupil should be advised in the school handbook and enrolment form that they should notify the school that the pupil has asthma or viral wheeze.
Unless the pupil is one of the very small number of children who have been identified by the specialist asthma nurses at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children as requiring a School Health Care Plan, the parent/carer should be asked to complete:
Form 11a: Asthma consent form including use of school’s emergency salbutamol inhaler for pupils up to, and including, primary 3 (and older pupils who are unable to self-administer their inhaler) OR Form 11b: Asthma consent form including use of school’s emergency salbutamol inhaler for pupils in primary 4 and up (or any pupil who is able to self-administer their inhaler)
School Health Care Plan
Almost all pupils who have asthma will not require a written School Health Care Plan. However, all pupils who have asthma should have their own Symptom and Action Flowchart for Asthma Attack. The specialist asthma nurses at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children will complete the School Health Care Plan for the very small number of pupils identified as having asthma that does require a plan. The plans will be reviewed at each clinic appointment by staff from the Asthma Clinic. Blank copies of the Asthma School Health Care Plan are not available to school staff.
Epilepsy
Notification
The parent/carer of the pupil are advised in the school handbook and enrolment form that they should notify the school that the pupil has epilepsy. All pupils with epilepsy are required to have a school healthcare plan.
School Healthcare plan
- For pupils with epilepsy who do not require emergency medication in school, the parent/carer should complete pages 1, 2 and 3c of the school healthcare plan, with page 4 being signed by all parties, as indicated.
- For pupils with epilepsy who require emergency medication in school, the parent/carer should complete page 1 and 2 of the school healthcare plan. Page 3 will be completed by medical staff at the pupil’s epilepsy clinic or by their GP with page 4 being signed by all parties, as indicated.
Diabetes
Notification
The parent/carer of the pupil should be advised in school handbook and enrolment form of the need to notify the school that the pupil has Type 1 diabetes (diabetes). Pupils who have diabetes are at risk of variable blood glucose and will need treatment in school with insulin.
School Healthcare plan
This is very specific to each child and depends on a number of factor. Below are the are the various Healthcare procedures and plans for diabetes.
Copy of EL Appendix 18a, Diabetes – ‘640G’ pump
Copy of EL Appendix 18b, Diabetes – ‘670G’ pumpCopy of EL Appendix 18c, Diabetes – CGM for ‘640’ pump
Copy of EL Appendix 18d, Diabetes – CGM for veo pump
Copy of EL Appendix 18e, Diabetes – insulin injections
Copy of EL Appendix 18f, Diabetes – ‘Omnipod’ pump March 2020 (2)
Copy of EL Appendix 18g, Diabetes – ‘TSlim X2’ pump March 2020
Copy of EL Appendix 18h, Diabetes – ‘Veo’ pump