Medicines for Children – Information for Parents
What is Medicines for Children?
Medicines for Children is a programme developed through a joint initiative by the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG), the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and WellChild. The Medicines for Children website provides information leaflets specifically about the use of medicines for children. They have been written for parents and carers but are also suitable for older children.
It was launched in spring 2009 with a small number of medicine sheets and the site has now grown to hold about 75 information leaflets on a range of different medicines.
Every medicine is supplied with a patient information leaflet which is written by the pharmaceutical company. However these leaflets are often written about the use of medicine by adults and are often very complex.
Medicines for Children therefore set out to produce easily understandable information leaflets for parents and carers. The leaflets are written by paediatricians and pharmacists, and reviewed by parents and carers like yourself. Leaflets will continue to be added to the website about other medicines relevant to children.
We want to make sure that our leaflets are accurate, well written, and useful to parents and carers. We use something called the Information Standard, to make sure that this happens. You can find out more about the Information Standard at http://www.theinformationstandard.org/.
Involving Parents
Parents editorial panel
Parents have been at the heart of this project from the very beginning and have directed paediatricians and pharmacists on how the information should be presented and what type of information should be included on each sheet. They have also been involved with the review and editing of new information, however as new sheets are being produced more parents are now urgently needed to be part of the editorial panel. You will not be asked to comment about the medicine itself, or the details of how and when it is given - it is simply a case of making sure that the information is understandable before it is made available on the website.
As we are now developing a new website to be launched later in 2011 we would also like parents to be involved in reviewing and evaluating the new site. This input will ensure that the new site is both practical and appealing.
We appreciate that your time is probably very limited and to make sure that your involvement is made as easy as possible and without committing you to attend any meetings the proposal is to use telephone and email to communicate with you.
If you decide to join the panel, we will email you draft information sheets from time to time and ask for your feedback within two weeks. Your suggestions will help us make sure the leaflets are helpful to parents and carers.
If you would like to get involved in this exciting project or have any questions about taking part then please contact:
Amy Wright
Family Networks Co-ordinator, WellChild
01242 530007
