To supply Salbutamol inhalers to a local school, which requirement must be met?

• A. The signature of the headteacher
• B. The GP's signature
• C. The school nurse's signature
• D. The parent's consent

Answer: (A)

Understanding this scenario relies on who is legally responsible for medicines within a school setting. When a pharmacy supplies salbutamol inhalers to a school, there needs to be a designated person at the school who authorises and takes responsibility for storing and managing those medicines on site. The headteacher is that key figure because they bear the overall responsibility for welfare, safeguarding, and policy adherence within the school. Signing the agreement formalises that the school will maintain the inhalers properly, ensure staff are trained to use them, keep appropriate records, and follow the school’s asthma management plan.

A GP’s signature isn’t required merely to stock inhalers at the school, since prescribing decisions occur at the clinical level rather than at school level. The school nurse’s signature might be involved in day-to-day administration or medical care, but it doesn’t replace the need for the school’s formal sign-off to receive and hold medicines. Parental consent is important for a child’s use, but it doesn’t fulfill the requirement to authorize the school to stock and manage the inhalers on its premises.