I rang my GP surgery today to book my routine 12 weekly appointment for my B12 injection only to be told there’s a current B12 shortage and they are only administering injections to those deemed urgent enough to need them.
My doctor has told me that I need to be tested to check my anti-bodies because if they are fine then I can be on tablets for B12 instead.
I am completely confused and feel very lost, I don’t know enough about this condition to understand but why was I put on injections a few years ago if I didn’t need to be? I am extremely worried that if my anti-bodies come back normal, I will be put on tablets and my health will take a rapid decline.
If my antibodies come back normal, do I have a leg to stand on to be able to fight for injections?
Thank you for any help!
Written by
JodieLouise
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The same happened at my surgery but without a shortage of b12in the equation. Once on Injections its stated in 'their' guidelines blood tests for b12 levels are not needed.
If you've had a PA diagnosis do not do anything apart from asking fof your due b12 injectiin as they are for life.
If you have a negative IFA test it does not rule out PA.
I would personally ask the pharmacist about shortages of b12.
I think many forum members get exasperated when there's yet another story like this on the forum.
I'm assuming you're in UK.
My experience has been difficult and I feel that many UK health professionals do not understand PA and B12 deficiency so I try to supply lots of information that might be useful.
"There’s a current B12 shortage and they are only administering injections to those deemed urgent enough to need them."
I suggest contacting your ICB(Integrated care Board) or Health Board and asking if there is a shortage of injectable B12 in your area.
Try a search online to find local B12 deficiency guidelines for ICB/Health Board or submit a FOI (Freedom of Information) request to ICB/Health board asking which B12 deficiency guidelines are used locally and for a link to or copy of them.
Self treatment
Some UK forum members as a last resort turn to treating themselves if NHS treatment is not enough for them.
Some get extra injections from private GPs or beauty salons, some try high dose oral B12 but this does not work for some people and some turn to self injection (SI) using injectable B12 from Europe.
Link to article that discusses patients who self inject B12 in UK and their reasons for doing so.
Patient safety, self-injection, and B12 deficiency: a UK cross-sectional survey
Natasha Tyler, Alexander Hodkinson, Naeem Ahlam, Sally Giles, Andrew Zhou and Maria Panagioti
Links to forum threads where I left detailed replies with lots of B12 deficiency info eg causes and symptoms, more UK B12 documents, B12 books, B12 films, B12 websites and B12 articles and a few hints on dealing with unhelpful GPs.
Some links may have details that could be upsetting.
Look up the Cochrane Review of Oral B12 treatment and read the report's conclusions.
My understanding is that GPs cannot impose a major change in treatment unless a patient has given informed consent for the change.
Of course GPs may argue that changing from B12 injections to oral B12 is not a major change in treatment.
As I understand it (I'm not a scientist or medical professional)this means that the GP should have discussed the pros and cons of changing to oral treatment, made sure patient understands the issues and got patient's agreement before treatment changed.
I'm assuming informed consent to the change to oral treatment has not been given previously.
If unhappy with a change to oral treatment, might be worth pointing out in any letter to GP that informed consent for the change in treatment has not been given.
Keep copies of any letters sent or received on this matter in case there is a need for formal complaint in future.
If a change to oral treatment is part of a study the GP surgery or ICB/Health Board is taking part in, has this study got "ethical approval"?
People might want to ask if they are part of a study and if yes, ask further questions about whether the study has "ethical approval" from an ethics committee.
Most studies involving patients need ethical approval.
Might be worth trying to find out if there is a review of patients on B12 injections going on in your area.
There are reviews in some areas of UK.
An online search for "nhs review b12 injections uk" should show some current documents.
CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups) were replaced by ICBs in England in July 2022.
ICBs are likely to take on the clinical guidelines of the previous CCG so a document from previous CCG could still be current.
I'm quite cynical after my experiences and these days try to check things I'm told by doctors myself.
Have you found the local B12 deficiency guidelines for your area?
I think people should protect their privacy but if you don't mind people knowing your ICB/Health Board then maybe forum members can help you to find them.
[This is an attempt at humour. Don't take it too seriously]
It's good to see that the argument used by Henry Crun in The Goons 'Can't get the wood, you know' as a post-war excuse for the inability to fix something lives on. [Some of our older members might appreciate this.]
I suspect the supposed 'B12 shortage' is in the same category as Henry Crun's wood.
The suggestion of asking a pharmacist is a good one, SleepyBunny!
I'm no expert; but I know that, if you have pernicious anemia, tablets are useless because we cannot asorb them properly. Injections are required, but doctors are very uninformed sadly.
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Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
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