Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario Replies to My Email Regarding the Glucagon Law

I received a response from Kathleen Wynne today after I had previously emailed her an outline of the Glucagon Policy issue here in Guelph and elsewhere in Ontario and across Canada. In the meantime, the Board of Trustees for the Upper Grand School Board notified me last week of their decision to maintain the status quo and not update the Glucagon Policy despite the progressive, inclusive and very accomodating Glucagon Policy changes adopted by the Wellington Catholic School Board. I was under the impression that I would be given an opportunity to "delegate" (speak for 10 minutes to elucidate the issue and advocate in my own words)  to the Board of Trustees regarding the safe use of Glucagon by teachers and other staff in the schools. I was not, however, afforded this opportunity.

I have had support for a change in the policy from many sources, including emergency services and education professionals yet the board of trustees seem very confident that they have made a safe decision. A policy that excludes the administration of a life-saving injection is descriminatory and placing all type 1 diabetic students at risk: I have been reliably informed that it is not possible to guarantee the arrival of EMS personnel within a certain span of time as there are many factors that influence response times and firefighters do not carry Glucagon or have training in its administration. I was saddened by  board trustee Mark Bailey's letter that outlined in an unfeeling manner how they would not be changing the policy - it did not seem like the sort of letter one should be sending the mother of an 8 year old type 1 diabetic trying to affect change for all T1D kids, not just her own. 

"Thank you very much for your online message regarding the Upper Grand District School Board. I value the input I receive from the people of Ontario, and appreciate your bringing your concerns to my attention.
I note that you have also sent a copy of your correspondence to my colleague
the Honourable Liz Sandals, Minister of Education. I understand that the ministry will be responding to your concerns.
Once again, thank you for writing to share your views with me. Please accept my best wishes.

Kathleen Wynne
Premier of Ontario
c: The Honourable Liz Sandals"

Sabrina's Law only came about through tragedy: T1D families would like to prevent a similar course for the Glucagon Law

Dear Beth,

Thank you for your email dated March 18th advocating for a policy change to allow administration of Glucagon to Type 1 Diabetic public school students. I have taken the time to share and discuss your request and rationale with fellow trustees and senior board administration.

As you are aware, there is a Life -Threatening Management Plan in place for your son and training has been done with staff to ensure they are aware of signs and symptoms prior to any possible emergency and how to best react. The Standards of Care, for students with Type 1 Diabetes in School, produced by the Canadian Diabetes Association recommends a multitude of preventative steps to take to ensure a student never experiences severe hypoglycemia. It does recommend that staff be trained in administering a syringe of Glucagon if the response time of EMS exceeds 20 minutes. We have been assured that the response time of EMS to Victory PS would be 8 minutes as it is situated so close to the hospital.

You are also correct that the after school program does need to follow our boards' policies / procedures and protocols as per their community use contract.

Currently, Waterloo Catholic and Waterloo Public have the same protocol we do, as indeed do most other boards. Wellington Catholic has amended their policy and it is apparently in practice in one school. This comes with a doctor's "order" and a waiver from the parents. The Client Services Manager at the Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre has been contacted and agrees that our protocol is sound and the proper response would be to contact 911 in an emergency. As such, the board will not be taking any action to alter our policy at this time.

Although you may be disappointed in your request being denied I want to thank you for your advocacy work on behalf of your child, and wish to encourage you to continue this conversation with your local MP and MPP should you wish to pursue having such a procedure become a law.

Sincerely,

Mark Bailey

Mark Bailey

Chair, Upper Grand District School Board

Trustee for Wards 1 and 5, Guelph

2nd Vice President, Ontario Public School Boards' Association

mark.bailey@ugdsb.on.ca

519-731-1913