I began work as a journalist on newspapers and magazines, and have now been freelance for more than 25 years. I contribute to all areas of the media on my specialist subjects of health, family life, education and human interest.

Print clients include newspapers (examples The Guardian, Independent, Evening Standard, New Statesman, Daily Mirror); consumer magazines (examples Woman, My Weekly, Right Start, Yours, Weight Watchers magazine); professional journals (examples Practising Midwife, Community Practitioner, Journal of Family Health Care, Sure Start magazine, Independent Nurse).

Web clients include BBC, Health Talk, Net Doctor. In 2011, I wrote most of the website for The House Partnership, a London partnership of psychotherapists who wanted a major website informing their clients about many aspects of mental health and psychotherapeutic interventions, and continue to be involved as a contributor.

Contract publishing includes editing several magazines for retail outlets and major consumer product ranges.

Reports include: ante-natal education in Bosnia-Herzegovina, for UNICEF; mental health and music for NHS Health Scotland.

Public sector includes: Baby Express/Toddler, newsletter for parents, piloted in Newcastle, supported by the Home Office; campaign and education materials for Health Education Board for Scotland; editing The Exchange, bulletin for Regeneration Exchange; Department of Health’s professional materials on infant feeding; Northumbria Health Care’s ‘Waist Week’ weight management materials; parent materials to support higher education applications.

Ghostwriting includes: book on healthy eating for TV doctor.

Video, scripting/directing includes: Breastfeeding - something to be proud of (for Tyne&Wear Health Action Zone). Expecting more than one - video for parents of multiples (for Tamba, Twins and Multiple Births Association); scripts for audio and advertisements for Audio Productions, Cheshire.

Many appearances TV and radio; research for radio; radio presenting.

Marketing support, meeting and interviewing consumers/clients; interviews and case studies for educational software company.

I am a qualified teacher of adults, and regularly run writing courses and media training workshops. In 2009 I was awarded an MSc in Health Sciences.

I have served on editorial and directors' boards of Mslexia, the magazine for women who write. I was until 2011 a long-serving member of the Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstetrician's consumer forum committee and I have written materials and reports for them.

I have written many books, mainly on health and childcare. You can see a full list here. They've all been done to commission, though some have been ideas that originated with me.

My first ever book was The Illustrated Dictionary of Pregnancy and Birth (Unwin Hyman 1986, 1987). My latest one is Successful Infant Feeding (Carroll and Brown, 2011).