July 1, 2024
Dear Parents/Guardians
It has been customary over the years, for the school nurse to administer over-the-counter medication such as Panadol to your child/ward when he presents to the sick bay/health office with a complaint of a symptom of a common illness.
However, being guided by the Nursing Council of Jamaica and the Ministry of Education, the school nurse will no longer be able to give your child/ward any medication without a written order from a doctor.
With your child’s health as a priority, we would like your assistance and cooperation in preparing for the possibility that your child might become ill and must have medication while at school. We would like for you therefore to follow the new medication policy/guidelines:
1. If your child/ward has a long-standing medical condition such as asthma, allergies, seizures, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and other diseases for which he/she takes prescription medication, then we would advise that as much as possible medications be given at home. Suppose however the time falls within school hours. In that case, (for example when being given three (3) times daily), we ask that a set of medication for this illness be kept at school for administration at the time specified and in the event of an emergency. Please be advised that the medication must be presented to the nurse in the pharmacy-labeled container with no more than 2-3 doses being necessary to be left.
2. If your child/ward does not take prescription medication but suffers from frequent headaches, sinusitis, etc, and uses over-the-counter medications such as Histal, Cetamol/Panadol, Antacids (e.g. Dica, etc.), Cetamol /Panadol cold and flu/ Multisymptom and others, then a standing order should be provided from your doctor to the school nurse. Based on the nurse’s assessment, the nurse will keep this standing order on file and administer it to the child when and if he/she finds the need.
Therefore, please show this note to your doctor and take in the prescriptions/standing order, when you present your medicals or at re-registration.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF YOUR CHILD IS ILL FROM HOME OR IN NEED OF MEDICAL TREATMENT HE/SHE SHOULD NOT BE SENT TO SCHOOL
This change does not interfere with emergency medical treatment, but ONLY THE NURSE WILL DETERMINE WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY.
If you have questions regarding this medication policy or other issues regarding the administration of medication to your child/ward while at school please contact the school nurse or the principal.
Yours sincerely,
Wayne Robinson
Principal
Kenni-Lois Gilpin
School Nurse
