This procedure aligns with the expectations for all Education Queensland personnel and legislative obligations to ensure all students who require medication at school are appropriately supported, enabling participation in the full range of school activities according to the advice of their prescribing health practitioner.
Medication able to be administered includes:
For the purposes of this procedure, medications are categorised as prescription medications and over-the-counter medications.
Medication can be administered via a number of routes. The most common route of medication administration in schools is orally. Other more specialised routes include medication administered via a gastrostomy tube or other feeding tubes, insulin injections for diabetes, use of adrenaline auto-injectors for anaphylaxis.
A request to administer medication by school staff during school hours should be considered only when there is no other alternative in relation to the treatment of specific medical conditions and when a prescribing health practitioner has determined that the administration of medication at school is necessary. The request to administer medication by school staff should be made using the Request to administer medication at school form
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
Medication required for medical emergencies, such as for anaphylaxis, diabetes, epilepsy or asthma attack are to be accessible at all times. EMERGENCY MEDICATION SHOULD NOT BE STORED IN A LOCKED CABINET. It should be stored in a safe, accessible place for emergency use wherever the student may be.
If the incorrect dosage of medication or the incorrect medication has been administered to a student the POISONS INFORMATION CENTRE should be contacted immediately on telephone 131 126 and the advice given followed. The appropriate documentation per HLS-PR-005: Health and Safety Incident Recording and Notification should be completed. For other medication errors (e.g. missed dose, dose refusal) the student's parent/carer or prescribing health practitioner should be contacted and appropriate records maintained.
Staff are not to administer any over-the-counter medications (including paracetamol or similar medications) without the correct authorisation from a medical practitioner.
Guidelines for the Administration of Medication in state schools outlines specifically the:
All medications will require authorisation from a medical practitioner or a prescribing health professional.
Procedures for storage and administration of first aid medication, including first aid kit and contents, are outlined under HLS-PR-003 First Aid.
Storage and disposal of medication
For further information, please contact:
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education and Training) 2006.