We are told new legislation by the European parliament will improve the regulation of drug treatment for children, says a child health expert in this week's British Medical Journal.

Over the past ten years, studies have shown widespread use of unlicensed and off-label drugs to treat children, writes Professor Imti Choonara from the University of Nottingham. What a surprise?

In 1999, concerns were raised about children in Europe receiving unlicensed or off-label drugs instead of ones that have been scientifically evaluated and licensed. So in December 2006, the European parliament passed legislation to ensure that drugs used for children are subject to high quality research. Would anyone know the difference. 

It will also provide better data on the benefits and harms of drugs used in infants and children, without subjecting children to unnecessary clinical trials and without slowing down the introduction of new d ...

With four children and a chiropractic clinic to run, I did not realise how hard it would be to keep up a blog. Prompted by the hysterias which always surrounds Andrew Wakfield and particularly this week as he appears before the GMC, I will try again. When we say we have not vaccinated our children people always assume we mean MMR. Readers of the site may also be of the view  that Wakfield inmy opinion has always been a diversion from the real issue vaccination policy in general especially the DPT vaccine with thimersol (mercury) in it which was withdrawn two years ago after questions were being raised particularly after the death of the late Sally Clark’s son Harry. < ...

Molly and Isabelle were looking forward to their sports day at Dolphins class all week, unfortunately it was a complete wash out.

Then one of the mothers Susan who had been training her son all year tried to get over her dissapointment by starting a wet T-Shirt competition. Susan's two year old  daughter Harriet had to jump on her to protect Susan's modesty as poor Alexander hung his head in shame. 

Many had warned Susan to stop eating the wine gums.  

Today I was at the nursery nativity play. It was really nice and well produced. Molly picks things up very quickly, I was surprised a few weeks ago when I heard her reciting a prayer. Although it was cute to hear her,  the second last thing I want in my house is religion. I was brought up an Irish Catholic when I was seven a nun locked me in a cupboard so that I would know what the “Dark Hole” was like before you entered the fires of hell. My experience was based on fear, my children are brought up with love the central theme.

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For a number of years GPs have been criticised for putting so much effort into reaching their vaccination targets. Patients who did not want to vaccinate were struck off  the practice registers. It is very difficult for parents to feel they are getting objective advice about vaccination. I am sure most GPs believe in the Governments vaccination policy, they are trained to focus on symptoms and provide medicine to relieve these symptoms, so I dont believe they just do it for the money.

It was reported in the Guardian yesterday that the NHS is going to pay for obese kids to have surgery. The hope is that after the surgery these children will start eating lettuce and running marathons. On the other hand it is more likely they will have to it again and again. Surely it made more sense for the Government to ban the advertising of junk food to children.

Molly and Isabelle walk every where. In fact when we go in to Kingston people think they might be lost so rare is it to see children walking down the street looking into shop windows. Most kids are strapped in, w ...