Have all B12 injections in England been stopped?

I'm new here. Sole carer for spouse with cancer and other health issues.

[fbirder]

No, not all.

The latest advice for GPs can be found here -

pernicious-anaemia-society....

Many practices have written (or texted) all those who normally have B12 injections that they need to buy pills and take them instead. Some people have found that speaking to the GP (not a nurse or receptionist) and arguing their case can get their jabs reinstated.

Other practices have, from the start, realised that B12 injections are essential and made arrangements for them to be given safely.

If you have no joy I would recommend writing to the GP, and cc: the practise manager, your local MP, the local press, radio and TV stations (they're all looking for a new slant on a covid-19 story). Explain that you are very worried that you cannot absorb B12 from pills (which is why you were put on injections in the first place) and that you may go on to develop irreversible nerve damage if you do not get your injections.

It's really annoying that people like you need to push so hard to get the treatment you need.

[Hidden in reply to fbirder]

Thanks for this reply. I am waiting to have a phone consultation with my doctor, I hope to convince her that I need to continue with B12 injections so that I can continue to care for my wife. If that does not work I offer to self inject. Next thing will be to follow your advice re writing to MP et al

[fbirder in reply to Hidden]

Excellent.

During the phone call it may be worth mentioning the new BSH (British Society for Haematology) guidelines for treatment of a B12 deficiency during the covid-19 pandemic. As the doc will certainly be unaware of them.

Those guidelines suggest that injections may be administered at home by a district nurse. I don't know if your wife has regular home visits by a medical professional, but, if she does, that may be a solution you can suggest. Doctors love it when patients make sensible suggestions that save them effort.

[Hidden in reply to fbirder]

Thanks again. The call went well, I did remained calm and reasonable and mentioned having read the guidelines. Also said that we have been on lockdown for 6 weeks and are extremely careful every respect (no contact with anyone, gloves to handle food deliveries, mail untouched for a couple of day etc) this is necessary because my wife is extremely vulnerable. As her only carer, I put the case I can't afford to be risk being unable to function properly and risk her wellbeing. He is going to put the case to colleagues and contact me tomorrow.

I feel quite positive about it, but it me think that there will be many people who don't have capacity to argue a case, do basic research or even access helpful sites like this.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to Hidden]

I hope you get a return call reinstating injections immediately- whether administered/taught to self-administer at home.

(with an apology ? -maybe too much)

You can't afford to deteriorate, your wife can't afford you to, the NHS can't afford you to. You can't either be put into a situation where she becomes at risk. You are both doing all you can to keep yourselves safe.

So the only obvious and humane answer is to help you at home. This shouldn't need guidelines, let alone a phone call hoping to convince your GP to continue your treatment.

You are absolutely right: the effects of B12 deficiency can make attempting to overturn ill-considered treatment decisions impossible for some.

I find it very hard to believe that GPs have not noticed these well-documented symptoms time and time over:

cognitive impairment

inability to concentrate or focus

memory loss

confusion

irrationality

mood swings

- each of which individually would prove a significant barrier to rational argument based on relevant medical research ...... but together ?

First, let's hope for good news regarding your treatment.

Then let's hope that GPs take notice of the latest advice issued - so that all those suffering from B12 deficiency don't have to fight case by case quite as hard just to retain their treatment during this pandemic.

[Hidden]

So I had a converstion with a doctor from my local practice and put the case that I had Pernicious Anemia and that supplements had never worked,

As well as being my wife's carer, I clearly have a serious medical condtion ( and am isulin dependant ), not having B12 shots could mak eme extremely ill very quickly and therfore an avoidale burden on the health systerm. I offered to self inject if necessary.

After consulting with colleagues he told me that they would order the B12 ampules and provide syringes which he popped through my letter box yesterday.

So it seems that in the first instance you need to state your case that you have a serious condition that is not treatable with supplements. Also, I politely thanked reception staff for their help but said that I didn't not want them to be go-betweens and I need to talk to someone about changing a practice decision. It is worth noting that the reception staff has recieved so many calls about B12 that they had asked the practice manager to raise the issue with the doctors.

From what I understand the advice to practices allows for shots to be available or even delivered as normal.

Thanks to this site and helpful replies/advice I was able to prepare for making my case. In the event of a refusal I was ready to complain formally to the practice and to involve my MP and local/national press.