Medical matters

Will my daughter undergo a medical at school?

There is a new girls’ entrance medical for year 7 and also year 12 joiners, A routine medical is also carried out in year 10. Other students may have medicals from time to time.

What should I do if my daughter is too unwell to attend school?

Please see the section about arrival, registration and attendance.

What will happen if my daughter becomes ill during the day?

A pupil who feels unwell during the day should go to the medical centre where she will be seen by the health co-ordinator, Mrs Susan Sharland (telephone: 020 7605 4821). She will assess the girl and make a decision about the best course of action. There is a bed for girls to use as a temporary measure for a short time but we do not have the facilities to care for girls who are too ill to attend lessons. Please see also our first aid policy.

What will happen if my daughter is too unwell to stay at school?

Parents of girls in year 7 to year 11 will be advised if their daughter needs to go home and asked to make arrangements to collect her. Those in year 12 and year 13 may, at the health co-ordinator’s discretion, be allowed home unaccompanied. No pupil should telephone home requesting to be collected; this decision will always be made by a member of staff. If the health co-ordinator is absent from the medical centre for a period of time, a note will be left indicating where she can be found. When she is out of school and urgent attention is required, students should ask in the school office for the on-call first aider.

What medicines may my daughter be given at school?

Ibuprofen, paracetamol, Piriton, throat lozenges, Bisodol and over-the-counter topical applications may be dispensed by the health co-ordinator for mild ailments unless you have specifically requested that your daughter should not be given any of these. Named first-aiders may dispense paracetamol only. Please see also our first aid policy.

What would happen if my daughter had an accident at school?

Small accidents are dealt with by the health co-ordinator and the pupil is advised to tell her parents when she gets home. In the case of a more serious accident, the health co-ordinator contacts the parents, who are advised of the treatment given and arrangements are made for the pupil to be collected either immediately or at the end of the day, if necessary.

If the accident is more serious, the pupil is escorted to A&E either by taxi or ambulance, and parents are advised where the girl is being taken and requested to meet her there. A record of all treatments given is kept in the medical centre. Please see also our first aid policy.

What would happen if my daughter required emergency medical treatment?

In accepting a place at the school, parents or guardians grant the High Mistress authority to give consent in loco parentis to the carrying out of any emergency medical treatments or procedures which are certified by a qualified medical practitioner to be necessary to the safety of the pupil. Please see also our first aid policy.

What should my daughter do if she has to take her own medication during the school day?

Girls are in general permitted to carry and administer their own medication but they should not bring more than a day’s requirements at a time and the health co-ordinator should always be advised. She will store and administer medication only if it has clear pharmacist's instructions on the container. Pupils should carry their own asthma inhalers, though we can keep spares if requested. Antibiotics and other medications needed during the school day should be kept in the medical centre with their dispensing-labelled packaging, but it is up to the pupil to remember when to take the required dose. Emergency medication (e.g. Epi-pens for acute allergies) must be provided and appropriately labelled, and will be kept in the medical centre. Pupils with acute allergies should also carry an Epi-pen on their person at all times. Please see also our first aid policy.

Who is the school's medical officer and what role does she play?

The school medical officer, Dr Christine Elliott, is normally in school one day a week. Pupils have medicals from time to time and they may also refer themselves to the doctor. Appointments can be made through the health co-ordinator. Pupils may also be referred to the medical officer if there is concern about either their mental or physical health. The school medical officer is also involved in vaccination programmes and the PSHE programme, advising on policies and on specific cases that arise.

Who is the school's counsellor and how can my daughter contact her if she wishes to?

The school counsellor, Diana Sharp, can be contacted directly by girls. Details of her mobile number and e-mail address are displayed in all form rooms.

What is St Paul's policy on confidentiality?

Girls are always encouraged to discuss any worries or issues with their parents. The medical team will, however, keep consultations confidential. The only exception is where there are concerns about the safety of the pupil or of others, or if there is a request for information from a court of law. In such an event the pupil would be informed of the necessity to communicate with others and their consent would be sought. Staff are advised on a “need to know” basis about pupils who suffer from potentially life-threatening conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy or allergies leading to anaphylactic shock.

What information will I have to provide when my daughter goes on an educational visit?

It is a condition of a pupil going on a school visit that the organiser should know of any medical conditions and necessary medication. Parents are also asked to sign a form at the beginning of the year agreeing not to send their daughter on any visit if she becomes ill or is in contact with a contagious illness immediately before departure. Separate documentation will be supplied with the details of such a visit. Staff taking a visit will carry your contact details as well as information about conditions your daughter may suffer from, any allergies, any dietary requirements, any medication she may be taking and the date of her last tetanus injection. It is important that you keep the health department informed if there is any change in your daughter's health record so that our information can be as up to date as possible.

For overseas visits, you will be asked to check a printout of the information currently held on your daughter and to attest that she is fit to undertake the proposed activities. We reserve the right to withdraw her from a residential visit if the school medical officer is not satisfied that she is fit enough. For further information, please see our educational visits policy document.