First Aid Provision at Co-op Academy Failsworth

Co-op Academy Failsworth provides access to trained First Aid staff on site for all pupils and staff.  We do not have a nurse but we do have access to the Local Authority School Nursing Team which we can refer to should we need advice or information for students.

When a student starts on roll at Co-op Academy Failsworth we ask for all pre-existing medical conditions, GP details and any other relevant health information so we can provide the right medical assistance for each student that has specific medical needs/conditions to enable them to access the full school curriculum effectively.

We provide access to a Healthcare Administrator (First Aid Trained) who is responsible for the monitoring of pupil medical information and provision of First Aid.  We also have a team of people who have basic First Aid training in the building that can assist if necessary. Our medical room is unmanned and access to this is gained through our First Aid Triage System coordinated through our Pastoral Teams.

Medication in School

We have several staff who are trained in the Administration of medication, however, as the guidelines indicate this is not a legal requirement, it is a voluntary act.  The guidelines on Supporting Pupils with Medication Needs published by the Department of Education can be found: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/supporting-pupils-medication-needs

Students that have a medical need and need to take medication in school will have a parental consent form for the self-administration of medication.  Assistance with medication will be provided should it be necessary.  All medication must be prescription medication and in the correct packaging, labelled correctly and dosage displayed.  Medication will not be accepted if it is just a sleeve/blister pack.
Students who suffer from Asthma, Allergies (that require Adrenaline Auto Injectors etc), Diabetes or any other medical need that require back up medication to be kept in school.  These will be kept in a locked cabinet in the medical room and again these must be prescription medication in the correct packaging, labelled with the dosage.  All medical plans such as Asthma Cards, Allergy plans etc are kept on the students records.

If antibiotics are to be taken they are usually taken before school after school and before bedtime unless the GP states otherwise.  In these cases the student will put a first aid request in and a member of staff will collect them from the lesson to take them to the medical room to take their medication.

Co-op Academy Failsworth School does not hold a stock of any painkillers and should a student request paracetamol, then parent/guardian may be called and asked to bring some into school if the need is severe.

All students who suffer from Asthma are expected to carry on them at all times the appropriate inhaler and should have a back-up one that can be left in the medical room in a locked cabinet. 

School holds emergency Inhalers and Adrenaline Auto Injectors.

Students with Diabetes or Epilepsy should have their rescue meds on them at all times and provide school with spare supplies.

Ibuprofen will NOT be given to any student under the age of 16 unless they are prescribed by a GP.

All medication left in school once the school year is over or the student leaves the school must be disposed of by the parents, so school will contact as and when necessary.  Parents will be contacted when held medication is out of date so they can collect to dispose of and provide new medication.

For safety of all students the following procedures will be followed in school:

To ensure the safety of every student, we operate a triage system.  This is to avoid students wandering round the school unaccompanied or standing outside the medical room, potentially being at risk if they are unwell.  The teacher will request First Aid either via Arbor or by sending a student to get help.  Once the request is received, a member of the pastoral team will go to the classroom and ascertain if they need to attend the medical room or not. Students who have Pink Medical Passes issued to them for specific medical needs will be treated as urgent and this may result in others having to wait a little longer to be assessed.

Any student that suffers a nosebleed will be sent to the first aid room immediately so they can be seen to.

All students are able to seek First Aid at break and lunchtime via the Healthcare Administrator.

If a student presents at school in the morning with an injury/condition sustained outside of school hours, we will contact parent/guardian and, if necessary, ask them to take them to the GP or A & E.

If a student falls ill during the school day and needs to go home, the parent/guardian will be contacted and required to pick them up.