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Education Council
EpiPens - UK DHSC
EpiPens advisory note
Recent media coverage of a national EpiPen shortage in the UK, and potential implications for Isle of Man pupils, has been noted by the Department and interim guidance has been issued.
Until such time as further advice is available, parents/guardians of pupils who use / are prescribed EpiPens are advised to review the alert issued by the UK Department of Health and Social Care.
This relates to the supply disruption of EpiPens (adrenaline auto-injector devices) and the advice to continue use of EpiPens within certain numbered batches beyond their labelled expiry dates for a period of 4 months.
The relevant lot numbers, which have labelled expiry dates between July 2018 and November 2018, are listed in the table of the linked document. These are likely already out in circulation i.e. have already been supplied to users. Prescribers are expected to explain the situation to users when they request a repeat prescription.
Equality in Education
Awareness of process for resolution of equality disputes – Section 107, Schedule 18, para 4(3) of the Equality Act 2017
General
Parts of the Equality Act 2017 (the Act) came into effect in the Isle of Man on 1 January 2019, with the remaining parts effective on 1 January 2020.
Protected Characteristics
The Act protects all people from discrimination on the basis of possessing a 'protected characteristic'.
The following protected characteristics will be effective from 1 January 2019:
- gender reassignment
- marriage and civil partnership
- race
- religion
- sex
- sexual orientation
- pregnancy and maternity
The remaining protected characteristics will be effective from 1 January 2020:
- age
- disability
Statutory requirements
The Equality Act includes a specific section on Education (Part 6, Division 1) which includes provisions to ensure discrimination, harassment or victimisation does not take place by a responsible body in relation to pupils’ education.
‘Responsible body’ means the School Governing Body or the Department of Education Sport and Culture.
Among other things, the Act also introduces a requirement for the Department:
- to make arrangements for the appointment of independent persons with the aim of avoiding or resolving disagreements between a responsible body and children/their parents about contraventions of practice in relation to discrimination, harassment or victimisation under the Act
- to raise awareness of these equality dispute resolution arrangements.
The Department has taken steps to make arrangements for such matters to be considered, the process for which is detailed below.
Appealing
Persons who feel that a responsible body has contravened the requirements of Division 1 of Part 6 of the Act should write to/contact the Department in one of the following two ways:
- by email – For the attention of the Head of Corporate Services at Admin.DESC@gov.im
- by letter – to the Head of Corporate Services, Department of Education Sport and Culture, Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John's, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS
Arrangements will then be made by the Department for the matter to be considered by an Independent Person.
Additional information
Dispute resolution process - education summary
Additional information regarding equality matters can also be found on the Equality Act webpage
