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Aim: Growth charts for cerebral palsy (CP) have been constructed using data for 24 920 Californian patients, covering ages 2 to 20 years, with separate charts for the five severity levels of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Our aim was to test how the data for British children with CP fit these charts, compared with conventional local charts.Method: US CP growth reference was reanalysed using the lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) method to allow calculation of standard deviation z-scores. Growth data for 195 children with CP in Glasgow, UK, were retrieved and converted to z-scores using the CP reference as well as the combined World Health Organization and UK 1990 growth reference (UK-WHO).Results: Compared to the UK-WHO reference, measurements diverged progressively with increasing severity, with mean height for GMFCS level V being close to the second UK-WHO centile. Compared with the CP reference, mean height and weight z-scores were between the 50th and 75th centiles for all severity levels, while body mass index was just below the 50th centile.Interpretation: British children with severe CP seem relatively very small when their growth data are plotted on non-CP charts, but their data for weight and body mass index fit well to US CP charts and reasonably well for height. The LMS look-up tables will make it possible to calculate z-scores and produce charts in local formats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Conservative-led government in the United Kingdom is embarking on massive changes to the National Health Service in England. These changes will create a competitive market in both purchasing and provision. Although the opposition Labour Party has stated its intention to repeal the legislation when it regains power, this may be difficult because of provisions of competition law derived from international treaties. Yet there is an alternative, illustrated by the decision of the devolved Scottish government to reject competitive markets in health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To assess uptake of community-based capillary thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) screening in Scotland and determine the optimal frequency of screening, the justification for preschool screening and strategies for treatment. Methods Subjects with Down's syndrome aged 1–19 years underwent capillary TSH measurement. Clinical and biochemical data were collected using proformas. Results 5742 capillary TSH tests were performed on 1329 children in 1997–2009, increasing from 183 children from two health boards tested in 1997 to 630 from 13 health boards tested in 2009. Of 132 children referred by the screening laboratory with elevated capillary TSH, 98 (M:F ratio 1:1.2, median (range) age 8.9 (0.9–17.9) years) had adequate documentation and 76 had thyroid dysfunction (defined as venous TSH >6 mU/l), giving a prevalence of not less than 5.7%. Fifty-six (57%) had tested negative during the previous year, 8 (8%) tested positive on their first screening test and 23/67 (34%) were thyroid peroxidase autoantibody negative on initial venous blood. Two of the 13 (13%) preschool children were severely hypothyroid (venous TSH 71 and 283 mU/l). Of patients with venous TSH 6–10.9 (n=27), 11.0– 20.9 (n=25) and ≥21.0 mU/l (n=24) following referral, initial/subsequent treatment with thyroxine was given in 3/8, 15/5 and 21/1, respectively. Conclusion Capillary TSH screening in Down's syndrome is eminently feasible and should be performed annually from 1 year of age. Nearly all subjects with initial venous TSH ≥11.0 mU/l will require thyroxine treatment but most with TSH 6–10 mU/l only require surveillance initially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]