Criterion HS219#

Medicine (prescription and non-prescription) is not given to a child unless it is given:

• by a doctor or ambulance personnel in an emergency or
• by the parent of the child or
• with the written authority (appropriate to the category if medicine) of a parent.

Before an adult at the service administers medication, the person must check the medication, dosage and time reflects the parent’s authorisation.

Medicines are stored safely and appropriately, and are disposed of, or sent home with a parent (if supplied in relation to a specific child) after the specified time. 

Documentation required (written or digital) #

1. A record of the authorisation from parents for the administration of medicine, and acknowledgement medication has been administered based on the category of medication outlined in the Schedule
2. A record of all medicine (prescription and non-prescription) given to children attending the service. Records include:
   • child’s full name
   • name and amount of medicine given,
   • date and time medicine was administered and by whom. 

Guidance#

How to show you are complying #

Educators can only give medicine to a child if they have written permission from their parent. The only time written permission is not needed is when a parent gives medicine to their own child, or in an emergency, when a doctor or ambulance officer gives the medicine.

Administering medicine

Before administering medicine, educators must check:

• they are using the correct dose (use a standard measuring syringe or spoon)
• the correct medicine is given to the right child (double-check the details on the label each time)
• they are administering it at the right time
• they are administering it in line with the parent’s written authorisation
• the medicine is still able to be used – it has not past its use by date (either the timeframes it is authorised for or the expiry date)

Medicine must be accessible to educators, but out of reach to children

All children’s medicine should be readily accessible to educators in case there is an emergency, but they cannot be accessible to children. If medicine needs to be stored in the fridge, make sure children cannot access it. 

Dispose of medicine safely and appropriately after the use by date. If parents provided the medicine, you may choose to send it home instead.

Educators cannot hold onsite and administer paracetamol, ibuprofen or ingestible analgesics that have not been provided by a parent. When these category medicines are provided by a parent, they should only be ones that are prescribed for the use by their child.

Records

Every service must keep a record of all medicine (prescription and non-prescription) given to children when attending, regardless of whether it is administered by an educator or by the child’s parent.

Each record must include:

• the child’s full name
• the name and amount of medicine
• the date and time it was administered and by whom;
• and evidence of parental authority to administer and acknowledgement.

Category (i) medicines should be acknowledged on the day administered

Parents must acknowledge medicines have been administered

• Parents must acknowledge that Category (i) medicines have been administered on the same day they have been administered.
• Parents must acknowledge their child received Category (ii) medicines, but the frequency can be agreed between the service and the parents.

You can record parents’ written authority and acknowledgement in writing or in digital form. Digitally, this could be done through email, or an electronic platform. The key point is that you need to be able to provide evidence that parents have authorised the medicine and acknowledged its use afterwards.  

You must also keep a record showing that parents have been informed when medicine is given to their child, how often parents are informed the medication has been given can be agreed between the service and the parent.

For Category (i) type medicines, keep the written permission for as long as the child is receiving the medicine, and renew it if the treatment continues or circumstances change. Each day you administer the medication, you need the child’s parent to acknowledge the medication has been given.