POLICY STATEMENT
Policy
OFSTED Standard No
School Department
Date Written
Written by
Approved by
Date of Approval
Next major review date
Location and disseminations
The context of the policy and
its relationship to other
policies
Boarders who are unwell - PROTOCOL FOR THE
SAFE STORAGE AND ADMINISTRATION OF
MEDICINES
NMS 3, Appendix 1.
BHS
21st April 2017
K. Davies (RN), E. Daniels (RN, RSCN), S. Hoad (RNChild)
Giles Sutton
4th May 2017
01 September 2017
A copy of the policy can be found, in the school
admin office and on the school website.
This policy should be considered in conjunction with
other written policies on behaviour, health and
safety, medicines, school visits, child protection and
safeguarding.
Aim:
1. To ensure the safe and appropriate administration of medicines.
2. To ensure all medication is safely and securely stored and not accessible to any one other
than the scholar for whom it is intended.
Protocol:
1. Only staff trained in the safe administration of Medication, can administer to scholars.
2. Medication for use under the Homely Remedies protocol will be obtained from Buckswood
Health Service (BHS) at Buckswood School. The nurses there order it through one of the
following:
 Selles Medical
 Laycocks Pharmacy, Old London Rd, Ore. Tel: 01424 436778
We have an account with them and they are usually very helpful.
 Other suppliers e.g. Sainsbury’s, Williams Medical.
3. Only medication that is included in the homely remedies protocol should be given to
scholars except for any prescribed by a medical practitioner, (or a trained nurse purchases a
non POM medicine for a specific scholar). See Homely Remedy Protocols.
4. All medication purchased should be added to the relevant stock sheet.
5. Any medication given must be recorded on an individual Medical Administration Record
Chart (MAR). The scholar’s name, the date and time given and the reason it has been given
must be included. This record must then be signed by the person giving the medication.
6. All stock medication must be kept in a locked cupboard. The room must be locked when
unattended so that the medicines are in a locked cupboard within a locked room.
7. Scholars should always take the medicine in front of the member of staff who has
dispensed it and never be allowed to ‘take it later’.
8. If scholars wish to keep their own prescribed medication and are assessed as competent to
do so, they must sign that they are responsible for keeping it safely.
9. Any medicines brought to school by scholars, that have not been prescribed, will be
confiscated. Scholars can then collect them on their next day of departure home.
10. Any unused prescribed medicines should be returned to BHS to return to pharmacy within
a month of the last dose being given and a signature obtained from the receiving
pharmacist.
11. BHS will dispose of any unused or confiscated medication via Laycock’s pharmacy through
their Disposal of Unused Medicines Procedure (DUMP).
Protocol for the administration of Homely medicines at Buckswood Health Service
The following medicines may be given by BHS staff trained in the safe administration and storage of medicines.
Symptom
Headache
Raised temperature
Between 37 – 38 degrees
C (over this seek advice).
Drug
Either:
a) Paracetamol 500mgs
Instructions
Under 6 - 12yrs
a) 1 tabs 4-6 hourly
(max 4 in 24 hrs)
or
12yrs or over
1-2 tabs 4-6 hourly
(max 8 in 24 hours)
Limb/joint pain
Sore Throat
b) Ibuprofen
Period Pain
Simple abdominal pain
with no other symptoms
Nasal Congestion
Vicks Rub
Cold/flu symptoms with
nasal congestion and/or
blocked ears.
Sudafed Liquid or Tablets.
Sore Throat/dry cough
If mild:
Throat Sweets
If more painful:
 Strepsils

Antiseptic gargle.
12yrs or over
b) 200 - 400 mg
4 - 6 hourly – No
more than 3 in 24
hours
Place on tissue and
breathe vapour.
12yrs or over
10mls or 1 tablet 4-6
hourly. Maximum of
4 doses in 24hours.
Suck one every 2 – 3
hours, as needed.
Suck one every 2 – 3
hours, as needed.
Gargle as needed
every 1 ½ - 3hours.
Not to be given
a) Patients with
problems
Comments
liver a) Ensure Paracetamol has not already
been given in form of other cold remedies (
Do Not Take With Alcohol
b) Asthmatics, those
allergic to aspirin or with
stomach upsets
b) Should always be taken with or after
food – may irritate the stomach lining.
Always increase fluids too.
Under 12 years
Diabetics
May also be dissolved in hot water & used
as an inhalation.
May be given with paracetamol.
Always increase fluids too.
Always encourage lots of fluid.
Symptom
Drug
Instructions
Not to be given
Comments
Non-productive cough
Linctus cough medicine
Take 5 mls up to 4
times day
Diabetics
Seek medical advice if productive cough or
raised temperature.
Indigestion/heartburn
Gaviscon liquid
10 -20mls mls 4-6 hly
Not to be given with
some stomach tablets
e.g. Ranitidine.
Take 20-30 minutes after meals if possible.
Seek medical advice if pain is severe or
lasts more than 48 hours.
Travel sickness or nausea
NOS
Stugeron
12 years or over
1-2 tablets every 8
hours.
Previous allergic
reaction
For travel, take 2 hours before journey.
.
Diarrhoea
Loperamide Capsules
Hay Fever symptoms/
Simple allergic rash with
no other signs or
symptoms.
Cetirizine 10mgs
Under 12years
1 tablet every 8
hours.
Take 2 capsules
initially, followed by
1 capsule after each
loose stool.
Max. 8 in 24 hours
12 yrs or over:
1 tablet daily.
Suck, chew or swallow whole with water.
Under 12 years
Under 6 yrs
Take as soon as symptoms start.
6 – 12yrs:
½ tablet twice a day.
The above is a guide only and the data sheet or instructions for each medicine should always be followed.
If there are any concerns about the pupil then advice should be sought from trained staff or other advice/emergency
services.
Dr Till 01424 720878; NHS advice number: 111
Hastings Walk in centre: 01424 884410;
Emergency 999
Protocol for the administration of medicines within Boarding Houses.
The following medicines may be given by staff trained in the safe administration and storage of medicines within a boarding school or a registered nurse.
Symptom
Headache
Drug
Paracetamol 500mgs
tablets
Cold/flu symptoms
Instructions
Under 12yrs
Not to be given to
Patients with liver
problems.
Comments
Ensure Paracetamol has not already been
given in form of other cold remedies (e.g.
Flu relief)
Patients who have an
allergy to Paracetamol.
If needed for more than 48 hours seek
medical advice
1 tabs 4-6 hourly
(max 4 in 24 hrs)
Raised temperature
Between up to 38 degrees C
(over this seek medical
advice).
12yrs or over
1-2 tabs 4-6 hourly
(max 8 in 24 hours)
Do Not Take With Alcohol
Limb/joint pain
Swallow with water.
Sore Throat
Always increase fluids too.
Period Pain
Simple abdominal pain with
no other symptoms
Nasal Congestion
Vicks Rub
Place on tissue and
breathe vapour
Sore Throat/dry cough
Throat Sweets
Suck one every 2 – 3
hours, as needed.
Diabetics
Always encourage lots of fluid.
Hay Fever symptoms/ Simple
allergic rash with no other
signs or symptoms.
Cetirizine 10mgs
12 yrs or over:
1 tablet daily.
Under 6 yrs
Take as soon as symptoms start.
May be dissolved in some hot water and
the vapour breathed in.
Do not ingest.
6 – 12yrs:
½ tablet twice a day.
The above is a guide only and the data sheet or instructions for each medicine should always be followed.
If there are any concerns about the pupil then advice should be sought from trained staff or other advice/emergency services.
Dr Till 01424 720878;
NHS advice number: 111
Hastings Walk in centre: 01424 884410;
Emergency 999