School 2wk trip abroad, son got sick, help

[Gaby123]

Hi
I'm new to the forum, don't know if I'm in the right place to post this.But really need some advice!!

My son went on a school trip, towards the end of the trip I got a phone call telling me that he had an ear infection and had been taken to a doctor. It was only a few days before they were due to return so I contacted the sch to ask if he would be fit to fly back, knowing that if the ear infection is severe its not recommended. They said the infection had gone and he was fine to fly back.

On the day he returned he complained of ear ache. Went to GP following day - GP looked astounded and said it was a hum dinger of an infection (his words). Wanted to know what treatment he had receieved. We haven't been given any report by the school. Cutting it short, the infection became a perforation, lead to sucked in ear drum, now needs operation for grommits and possibly replacement ear drum.

What i want to know is whether the school should have provded a medical report of the treatment he was given so we could at least pass it to our GP. I have asked them over and over again and they say they can't now get the info.

I've asked the Dept of Education who said contact the LEA, LEA said they don't know if I should have been given a medical report.

Do any of you know?? its his GCSE year and he's missed a lot of sch as a result and with the operation(s) looming he will miss more.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Gaby

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I think you should ask the school to contact their insurance company they used for advice.

[Gaby123]

Thank you but the only answer I get from the school is that it was all organised through a tour op. I'm not even sure if there was separate insurance as the children had to have the NHS card for travel abroad. But will see if I can get further details.

As I indicated the school is being completely unhelpful.

Gaby

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

They must have had insurance in case the bus fell off a cliff or something. Ask to see their insurance documentation.

[madwomanintheattic]

ear infections are notoriously difficult to treat though - ds1 used to get loads. all they would have done is give him antibiotics - sometimes they don't work and you have to get a different type. repeat until you find something that works.

it probably wouldn't have changed the outcome to have a medical report tbh. if it was only a few days before he came back, they should have given you the antibiotics for him to continue to take at home? did he come back with the bottle?

what a shame for him. ear infections can be horrible. the school must know which medical facility they took him to - ask him which teacher accompanied him to the doctor's appointment and contact the clinic directly. if you give them the day of the appointment they should be able to confirm what treatment he received.

i'm not sure what outcome you are hoping for though? the only possible case of negligence would be if they didn't bother to take him to a doctor at all - but again, if he said he was feeling better, they may have felt it was unnecessary?

[Gaby123]

Hi Thanks for your replies. I have now been in contact with the tour op and they are getting me the insurance details.

With regards to outcome, my son has never had ear problems and no didn't come home with any pills or medicine. He says they only gave the pills to him for a couple of days and then told him he was ok and didn't need them. They did ask how he felt and he told them that the discharge from his ear had stopped. So unless the antibiotics were a 2 day course (unlikely) then he wasn't given the full course.

The problem is not only the ops but the fact that he has lost 20 decibels of hearing in the ear which the doc says he won't get back and expects there to be a further loss as time goes on. Hence the need for further hearing tests.

The teacher that accompanied him is no longer at the school.

But thanks to the advice I have at least got some positive response from the tour op, who say they will get back to me asap.

Gaby