Guidance on Labelling of Medicines – September 2008

The Medicines Act 1968 states that 'the prescriber's directions must be followed'. So staff are only legally allowed to give meds as detailed on the label printed by the dispensing pharmacy, as these constitute the prescriber's directions. If parents think their child needs medication more often, they must go back to the GP.

If medication is prescribed as '3 times a day', then they should be given the 3 times, not more or less. The medication should be regularly spaced out during waking hours [unless otherwise instructed]. Unless a child is staying after hours for clubs etc, then best given before school, on return, and at bed time, so no need to bring to school at all.

If medication is labelled 'when required' or 'as required' the school will use the details as given by the family in the care plan to, determine if medication should be given, ie details of what symptoms the child will show when having a problem and how often medication should be given before further action is taken.

Prescriptions can state '3 times a day when required' meaning that when the person has symptoms they should use the medicine up to 3 doses a day, could use less number of doses but not more.

Please contact Mr. Condon if you require clarification of these points