Our on-site Medical room is intended for students with urgent medical needs or the treatment of pre-existing conditions. In order to deter students from abusing this privilege, any student who feels unwell must now alert their classroom teacher, who will call a “walkabout” member of staff to collect them and deliver them directly to the First Aid room for treatment. Students are not permitted to self-present unless in an emergency.

Miss D Ainsworth - School Nurse: wpbmedical@woolwichpolyboys.co.uk

First Aid Box Locations at WPSfB

Medical Room Procedures

The Medical room is located in the main building underneath the stairs to the canteen. It is open daily; during break-times non-emergencies (for example, headaches, stomach aches, etc) students may attend without a permission slip. Unless students are receiving treatment or are waiting to be collected by a parent/carer, they will be asked to return to class at the end of break.

Students who become too unwell during a lesson to continue, will need to be issued with a permission slip by their teacher or escorted by a member of staff to the Medical room.

Please note: If a student needs to be sent home the parent/carer will be contacted by a member of staff; students must not contact parents/carers themselves via mobile phone to request collection from school.

Any student who currently holds a Medical card, will be permitted to use our Medical room, unescorted. Diabetic students will be permitted to use the medical room to check their blood glucose levels and administer insulin, as required.

Medication 

All medications must be stored in the Medical Room in a locked cupboard during the school day. Medication prescribed or specifically recommended by a GP or specialist consultant, can now be administered by our School Nurse or Medication Trained Staff.

In order for permitted medication to be stored and administered in school, parents/carers are required to contact our first aid team by emailing: wpbmedical@woolwichpolyboys.co.uk and also complete the online Parental Agreement for School to Administer Medicine Form.

All medication must be:

• Appropriately labelled, showing the original prescription label (including name and date of birth).
• In its original container and handed directly to the School Nurse.
• Accompanied by clear instructions on dosage, frequency of dosage, date of dispense, storage requirements (if any) and expiry date.

Reminder for parents/carers:

• It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to notify the school if there is a change in medication.
• Parental consent for the School Nurse to administer over-the-counter medications (paracetamol, ibuprofen, throat lozenges and antihistamine) can be given using the My Child At School app (MCAS). Without written parental consent, the medication will not be administered, if required during the school day.
• The school will not accept responsibility for dispensing any medication which is not clearly labelled.
• For the safety of our community, students are not permitted to carry any medication on their person, unless it is an inhaler, insulin or adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen).

Asthma

At all times, students should carry their own reliever (blue) inhaler.

If your child has asthma, or if they have been prescribed an inhaler, please complete the Emergency inhaler consent form. This will allow them to use an emergency inhaler held by the school should their inhaler be unusable. Please note, this is only available whilst on the school premises. Parents/carers should complete the Health Assessment Form. Please note, students with inhalers should always have a working, in - date inhaler, clearly labelled with their name, with them at all times.     

Students with Food Allergies

If your child has a food allergy, please provide written confirmation of the allergy from their medical professional, along with any treatment required. Parents/carers should complete the Health Assessment Form.

Hayfever

As it is hayfever season students are now likely to display symptoms of hayfever which include swollen red eyes, a runny nose, sneezing etc.

Please can all students who are known to suffer from hayfever be given antihistamine (cetirizine hydrochloride) each morning before they arrive at school. 

If you have not already done so, please ensure that you use the mychildatschool app to provide parental consent for over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines, paracetamol, ibuprofen and strepsils.

Click here to view the NHS page for Hayfever

Students with Auto-Injectors

Please note, students should carry 2 auto-injectors with them at all times, all medication prescribed or over the counter should be handed to the School Nurse.

If a student has been prescribed an auto-injector for an allergy, parents/carers should complete the Health Assessment Form and ensure they have provided the school with a spare auto-injector. If a student does not have a plan this should be requested from their medical professional or confirmed in a discharge/clinic letter. 

Students on Crutches

Any student arriving at school on crutches should report at reception to discuss accessing the school site.