Medication and Emergency Medicine Procedure

This procedure applies where a maintained or academy school manages pupil medication or provides emergency medication support. It is not intended for independent schools.

1. Medication storage

Medication must not be kept in a first-aid container. Medication must be stored separately from first-aid containers at [medication storage location].

First-aid containers and medication must remain distinct so that medication is not treated as part of first aid equipment.

2. Assistance with a pupil’s own medication

A first aider should generally only assist a pupil who needs to take their own medication, where appropriate. The first aider’s role is limited to helping the pupil to take their own medication.

A first aider must not treat the general provision of tablets or medicines as part of first aid. Any assistance provided under this procedure must remain within the first aider’s limited role.

3. Emergency medication and individual healthcare plans

Where a pupil needs access to life-saving prescription medication in an emergency, the emergency medication arrangements must be recorded in the pupil’s individual healthcare plan.

The individual healthcare plan must identify the staff members who are to be aware of what to do in relation to the emergency medication arrangement. The identified staff members are [identified emergency medication staff].

4. Administration of specified prescription-only medication

The administration of prescription-only medication specified in Schedule 19 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 must only be undertaken by people trained to do so.

A person must not administer specified prescription-only medication under this procedure unless that person is trained to do so. The trained people authorised by [school name] for this arrangement are [trained medication administrators].

5. Applying the procedure

Before providing assistance or administering medication, staff must identify whether the action is limited assistance with a pupil’s own medication or administration of specified prescription-only medication. Limited assistance with a pupil’s own medication may generally be provided by a first aider where appropriate. Administration of specified prescription-only medication must be undertaken only by a trained person.

Where emergency medication is involved, staff must use the arrangements identified in the pupil’s individual healthcare plan and follow the instructions known to the identified staff members.