HELP - What are those guidelines called again?

[mikeg71]

Please will someone tell me what the name of the doctor guidelines are that say that doctors have to treat us as a patient by viewing our entire symptom range and not just relying on blood tests to prescribe B12 injections.

Many thanks, I know the GP Warriors on here will know this type of thing off the tops of their heads.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Strictly speaking guidelines are guidelines so GPs don't have to follow them.

However, if it came to a legal case they should be taken into account as establishing the standards of care that GPs should be applying so from a professional standpoint they should be taking notice of them

I presume you are based in the UK - and probably in England - in which case the main guidelines are the NICE guidelines in relation to GP - one for cobalamin and folate deficiencies can be found here ... however, it isn't the best guideline in the world as it is extremely confusing when it comes to B12 and anaemia and it is very easy to understand why GPs end up thinking that they are treating the anaemia that results from B12D rather than B12D

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-b12...

The other guidelines that are often quote here and relevant to the UK are the BCSH guidelines that give guideance for haematologists and they can be found here

bcshguidelines.com/document...

This alert is also pertinant to interpretation of B12 serum test

ukneqas-haematinics.org.uk/...

[Polaris]

Not strictly guidelines but is the latest BMJ research document, which includes an excellent summary :

cmim.org/pdf2014/funcion.ph...

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

There's a good summary of the BCSH guidelines on the PAS website in the library section.

pernicious-anaemia-society.org

It can be helpful to know what the management guidelines for B12 deficiency are for the NHS in your area. You may be able to track it down by going to the NHS website for your area and doing a search. You may be able to find it by putting in an FOI request (Freedom of Information). Regional guidelines can vary and some have not been updated since the BCSH guidelines came out.