John Ogilive Parents’ rage as council fails to inform them of ‘swine flu’ pupil

Sep 3 2009 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

EDUCATION bosses have been slammed for keeping parents in the dark after a 14-year-old girl at a Hamilton school contracted suspected swine flu.

Shannon Gallacher, a pupil at John Ogilive High School in Farm Road, Burnbank, was confirmed by doctors of having symptoms of the virus last Tuesday.

But furious parents fear that South Lanarkshire Council’s decision not to inform them about Shannon’s condition has put their own children’s health in danger.

Shannon went off sick from school last Tuesday and her mum and dad, Anne (43) and Frank (54), insist that other parents should have been notified that there was a suspected case of swine flu at John Ogilvie High.

And the couple are furious that their other daughter, Mandy (13), a Second Year pupil, has been told to continue attending the school – despite showing symptoms of swine flu.

It’s believed that parents of two other children at the school may also have the virus.

Anne, of Ewart Crescent, Laighstonehall, said: “I think they school should have done more and notified all parents.

“This could have given everyone the choice of whether to let their child to go to school or not.

“My other daughter now has symptoms, sneezing and coughing. I think she should be kept off school until given the all-clear.

“The school should try to contain the spread of the virus. Experts say that you have swine flu for five days before you have any signs of it.

“So Shannon would have been in class with other pupils before she was aware that she had swine flu.”

Husband Frank added: “I think a letter from the school should have been sent out to parents to let them know about Shannon.”

Shannon was struck down with swine flu after she came home from school last Monday and began feeling unwell.

Anne added: “She was burning up, had a fever and was sick.

“I called the doctor the following day and told him of the symptoms and he said it ticks all the boxes for swine flu.”

A concerned parent said that her children, one with a heart condition and the other with asthma, have been put at risk.

She said: “Do all the children have to catch swine flu before parents are informed?

“The children with suspected swine flu should have been isolated.

“People with swine flu are told not to go to the hospital or doctors, but children with suspected swine flu are told to come to school?

“I don’t understand the logic in that.”

Another parent said her daughter has flu symptoms and she will not let her child return to school until she has been given the all-clear.

“It is a disgusting that the school didn’t tell parents about it,” she said.

“Parents should have been made aware of what was going on.

“I have a three-year-old child and a 10-month baby; who is to say that my baby wouldn’t be vulnerable to swine flu?

“Now my daughter has swine flu-like symptoms. I don’t want to send her to school and put others at risk.

“I am keeping my daughter off school until everything is alright again and I speak to my GP about it.”

A NHS Lanarkshire spokesman said: “The school are following current Scottish Government guidance about swine flu to ensure any suspected or confirmed cases are looked after in the right way.

“South Lanarkshire Council issued a letter to all parents and guardians of pupils at the start of the new term based on this guidance.

“The letter contained advice on what to do if you have a flu-like illness or have concerns about children with existing medical conditions.

“It states that pupils who have been in contact with someone who has suspected or confirmed swine flu do not need to be kept at home unless that pupil themselves develops flu-like symptoms.”

If you are worried that your child may have swine flu, seek medical advice by calling NHS24 on 08454 242424.