After months of waiting for a decision whether her diabetic son will be able to attend Government pre-school, a frustrated mother has been told she must keep him home until next September - unless she pays for a private nurse to attend with him.

Almost three months ago, mother-of-three- Rachael Medeiros contacted The Royal Gazette when it was unclear whether four-year-old Daniel McRonald would be attending St. Mark's Pre-school. The young boy suffers from Juvenile Diabetes, also known as Type 1. Because of the autoimmune disorder, little Daniel's pancreas cannot produce insulin.

As a result, last year Daniel was fitted with an insulin pump which provides a steady flow of the hormone into his body via a catheter.

While the pump eliminates the need for Daniel to receive multiple injections, it must be monitored throughout the day to ensure his sugar levels are correct. The constant monitoring of the insulin pump is at the centre of Daniel's plight.

Just before Daniel was set to attend pre-school this September, Ms Medeiros received a phone call from the Ministry of Health. According to her, she was told that Daniel would not be able to attend St. Mark's because the assistant hired to monitor him had backed out of the job at the last minute.

However, Ms Medeiros was informed by representatives of both the ministries of Heath and Education that a replacement would be found as soon as possible. But still, Ms Medeiros said, nothing has been done.

This week, she told The Royal Gazette of her last meeting with officials, when she was told by the Ministry of Health that a private nurse would have to be hired to accommodate Daniel's needs - but she would have to pay for the services out of her pocket.

Because Ms Medeiros cannot afford to do so, she was told that she would have to seek financial assistance.

"(That's) something that I don't want to do," she said. "His doctor and Debbie Jones of the Diabetes Centre have both told the Ministry that Daniel doesn't need a nurse."

Ms Medeiros, who is pregnant with her fourth child, said she intended to work again full-time after her baby was born early next year.

"I'm able-bodied and capable of working a decent job, so I really don't want to go that way," referring to the possibility of her having to attain assistance.

However after enquiries were made by The Royal Gazette, Ms Medeiros said she received a call on Wednesday from the Ministry of Health seeking another meeting with her.

At the meeting, she said, Government policy under the Public Health Act, was explained to her and how it applied to her son's needs.

Firstly, she said she was told that it was not Government's responsibility to educate her son until he turned five.

In addition, paraprofessionals are not allowed to administer medication to students, therefore could no nothing for her son in the event he suffered a diabetic coma or other difficulties. Thus, only a doctor or nurse would be able to dispense Daniel's insulin if needed.

"I understand their difficulties, but it seems grossly unfair," Ms Medeiros said.

However, at the Thursday meeting, Ms Medeiros was told if she sought financial assistance, her lifestyle would not be compromised in any way, as the aid would apply for Daniel's needs only.

And while she said she was pleased to have had the meeting, Ms Medeiros said she is still disappointed of the likelihood that her son will not attend school until September.

"He's still confused about the situation," she said. "When people ask him why he's not in school, he tells them, `Because I'm not ready to go'."

When contacted by The Royal Gazette, chief medical officer, Dr. John Cann said while the Department of Health could not provide assistance to Ms Medeiros at this time, it would do all it could to see that Daniel receives the medical assistance he needs in September.

"The Department of Health does not normally provide services to pre-schools...It's not a matter of what we are saying what people can and cannot do. We are simply operating under the law.

"The difficulty is the immediate term for the next few months. Based on our resources, we cannot provide assistance, but when Daniel reaches primary school, we will work with the Ministry of Education to ensure that he is appropriately schooled," he said.