HS113 Adminstering Medicine 25.4

Administration of Medicine/s Procedure V4

References:

Ministry of Health, 1997, Nga Kupu Oranga, Healthy Messages; a health and safety resource for early childhood services.

Te Whāriki:

Mana Atua/Well-being - Goal 1: Tamariki/children experience an environment where their health is promoted.

Purpose:

The purpose of this operational policy is to keep tamariki and adults safe by meeting Licensing Criteria HS122 and HS123

Objective: to administer medicines safely and only with appropriate authority.

Aim: To uphold the health and safety of tamariki by ensuring that they are given proper care, and that medication is not administered inappropriately by services.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008 – HS28

General:

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

By doctor or ambulance personnel in an emergency
By the parent of the tamaiti or
With the written authority (appropriate to the category of medicine) of a parent

Categories:

Category (i) medicines

Definition – a prescription (such as antibiotics, eye/ear drops etc) or non-prescription (such as paracetamol liquid, cough syrup etc) medicine that is: used for a specified period of time to treat a specific condition or symptom; and provided by a parent for the use of that child only or, in relation to Rongoa Māori (Māori plant medicines), that is prepared by other adults at the service.

Category (ii) medicines

Definition – a prescription (such as asthma inhalers, epilepsy medication etc) or non-

prescription (such as antihistamine syrup, lanolin cream etc) medicine that is used for the ongoing treatment of a pre-diagnosed condition (such as asthma, epilepsy, allergic reaction, diabetes, eczema etc); and provided by a parent for the use of that child only

Authorisation for Category (i) medicines

Authorisation is provided from a parent at the beginning of the period medicine is intended to be administered, detailing:

what (name of medicine),
how (method and dose), and
when (time or specific symptoms / circumstances)

The authorisation must be renewed if the period is extended or circumstances change. Each day the medicine is given, parents acknowledge this was administered to their child. Parental acknowledgment is recorded.

Authorisation for Category (ii) medicines

Authorisation is provided from a parent at enrolment as part of an individual health plan detailing:

what (name of medicine)
how (method and dose) and
when (time or specific symptoms or circumstances)

The authorisation to administer medicine is updated whenever there is a change. How often parents are asked to acknowledge their child received the medicine can be agreed between the service and the parents.

Procedure:

A general authority to administer medicine to tamariki is included in the preschool’s Enrolment Form and must be signed by the parent at the time of enrolment.
The preschool will keep a record of all medicines to be administered to a tamaiti. The following information is to be recorded on the Medicine Record:
- The name of the tamaiti
- The name of the medicine / type
- The dosage/time to be administered
- The frequency
- The parents signature
- Kaiako signature who administered it
- The name or signature of Kaiako witnessing administration
All medication must be correctly labelled with the name of the tamaiti and expiry date.
Before a kaiako administers medicine, the person must check the medicine, dosage and time reflects the parents authorisiation
All Category (i) and (ii) medications must be handed directly to kaiako who will place them up high out of reach of tamariki or in the fridge.
Medication will not be given if it is out of date or has been prescribed to someone other than the tamaiti.
All permanent kaiako are able to administer medication.
Medicine will only be administered to a tamaiti in the presence of another Kaiako who will verify/and sign the correct type and dosage of medicine has been given
Training could be in the form of conversations, demonstrations or written information, and include the child’s GP, practice nurse, public health nurse, a pharmacist or a foundation such as the asthma foundation.
A record of information and training provided is kept with the child’s enrolment record

If a tamaiti has a Health Plan- the above procedure is also followed. For category ii medications there will be a written authority from a parent given at enrolment as part of an individual health plan, or whenever there is a change, detailing what (name of medicine), how (method and dose), and when (time or specific symptoms/circumstances) the medicine should be given. Health plans will be checked and resigned by a parent at the beginning of each term, or when there is a change to the medication. The parent will inform kaiako how and when the medication is to be applied or administered. All Kaiako will be informed and training if required.

First Aid Qualifications

To meet the First Aid requirements under Licensing Criteria HS 119 and Schedule 1 of the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, our centre recognises any First Aid qualification from courses that:

are delivered by a New Zealand Qualifications Authority accredited first aid provider; and -
adults in our service must have completed two (2) relevant unit standards (6401) - Provide first aid - and 6402 – provide resuscitation level 2)
are evidenced by a certificate issued by the trainer that is valid for a period of up to 2 years following qualification.
The qualification can be extended for another 2 years by completing either a first aid qualification course or a revalidation course run by an accredited provider.
Copies of current first aid certificates are held by the service.

Date: June 2025

Next review: June 2027