London parents are the least likely in the UK to inform their pharmacist or GP if their child experiences a side effect from their medicines, an MHRA survey has revealed. Sixty-nine per cent of parents in the capital would report suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to a doctor, while 39 per cent would also consult a pharmacist – compared with highs of 88 and 59 per cent of parents respectively in Wales.

While parents in London were the least likely to report ADRs, they had the highest level of awareness of the MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme, at 15 per cent, compared with a national average of nine per cent. Reporting suspected side effects in children is particularly important because they can react in a different way to adults to the same medicines. Dr Hilary Cass, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: “For children to get quality and effective medication that’s right for them, it’s important that healthcare professionals work with families to report all side effects, no matter how big or small.”