I've got a personal battle to fight with my GP....
Having recently recieved a letter from the NHS Business Services Authority informing me that my NHS Medical exemption certificate is about to expire - the one I was allocated when originally diagnosed with ET - the letter requested that I fill out form FP92A to confirm that I am eligible for a new certificate. I duly filled out the form and ticked the box for:
"I am undergoing treatment for:
_ Cancer:
* including for the effects of cancer; or
* the effects of current or previous cancer treatment"
I then handed this form into my GP awaiting his approval of my statement who would then send the form off to the NHS Business Services Authority. Anyway, he's sent the form off, but declared that I am not eligible for free prescriptions and therefore that my statement and claim as a cancer patient recieving treatment is false - as such I should not qualify for free prescriptions!
I've since called him this morning and he seemed quite dismissive of ET being:
a) a cancer
&
b) Even if it was, I'm not undergoing treatment for it.
As you can imagine I am pretty annoyed. Having challenged his assumption that appeared to be that ET is not a cancer, I informed him that organisations like the WHO and Blood Cancer UK have defined ET as such. He then seemed to concede ground here, but instead of accepting his error he moved his argument to being that even if it was a cancer I'm not receiving ongoing treatment for it. He actually referenced a letter from my Haematologist referring to me not recieving treatment when she was referencing stronger meds to reduce platelet levels which I have never taken - to date I have only ever taken 25mg of aspirin per day.
In my mind the fact that I'm taking aspirin daily and seeing a Haematologists 4 times a year, and providing ongoing blood tests is treatment.
He has invited me to challenge his decision, thus this post. What I want to source is a statement or letter from a respected medical intuition or individual to confirm that based on the above that:
A) ET is classed as a cancer
&
B) if I am being prescribed aspirin daily and seeing a Haematologist to monitor my bloods, then by definition this is receiving treatment for my cancer.
Can anyone assist?
Regards,
Written by
anewpath
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The GP has emailed my Haematologist too. I guess the most quick and effective resolution will come via my Haematologist. Hopefully, she can champion my cause, but yeh.... a stress I don't need.
You should take a copy of mpn voice information sheets and at the section of et it says it is recognised by WHO as a rare cancer of the blood so how could your GP argue with that I am from Scotland and with a local MSP tried to get the health minister to intervene but to no availMerry Christmas
It seems after your argument your GP has now accepted ET is defined as a cancer by WHO?
For additional argument, the link to the NHS criteria for free prescriptions states ‘including the EFFECTS of cancer’. It could reasonably be argued that any symptoms you experience are ‘effects of cancer’. You could also query the definition of ‘treatment’.
I would also ask for clarification on what has changed in the criteria since you were originally proven to be eligible.
Hi, I'm pleased to say that as of this afternoon my GP has messaged me to say he's reversed his decision, and they'll now be sending a second form to confirm i should receive free prescriptions. Thank goodness.
You wonder what sort of training GPs receive now...I find it all very worrying. Recently a gastro consultant referred to my ET as ' not a cancer really'. Well done you for fighting your corner.
Yeh, i did partly, but someone else must have contacted them on my behalf. I know my hematologist nurse did so this afternoon. Anyway, all resolved, but yes a stress i didn't need, especially as i was in A & E yesterday from 4.30pm to 1.30am. Horrible and a whole other experience i won't bore you with. As the saying goes.... "when it rains, it pours".
gosh I’m horrified. Surely the letter from the heamotologist stating your diagnosis is suffice along with the statement from WHO. Maybe Maz could help. Hunter raises a valid point. If possible switch GPs.
I am glad you have resolved the prescription issue. If it helps, I always inform people that I have a Myloproliterative Neoplasm and explain this group of cancers includes Essential Thrombocythemia (with Jak2 a driver mutated gene) which I live with on a daily basis. Shouldn’t be any doubt then. I carry an MPN card to show and help people with their spelling (cards from MPN Voice).
Hope you are recovered from your trip to A&E, nothing too serious for you to deal with on top of GP stress.
From the above link."MPN is classed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as types of blood cancer. This means your care and treatment follows national cancer guidelines and you should have access to cancer support services." a free prescription is part of the cancer support services?? I hope this helps.
Nice of your GP to apologise NOT for causing you this unnecessary stress!! Well done for preserving - what's upsetting is some people would have just taken his word and given up.
Yeh, i t's nice to right a wrong, and clear my name so to speak. It did kinda felt like they'd tarred me as a fraud having cancelled my free prescriptions status. Not a nice experience and I could easily see how others might not fight the decision. It sadly seems to be part and parcel of what's wrong with my gp service right now. Getting an appointment is virtually impossible. Just seems like a disservice rather than what I 'd expect of a gp service. I've been with this gp since i was a child, but genuinely feel like leaving them now. I have to call 111 or go straight to a & e to get any consultation.
it is a blood cancer. If you havnt already seen a specialist, request Gp to book one. You need blood tests taken regularly to check how you are doing .
Do you have them ?
Sometimes cancer diagnosis works in our favour !!!!!!!!!!!!
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bad itch and body rash
Update, probaby posted in the wrong bit
ET treatment is cruel and illogical
Post ET MF - Advice Please
