STV news broadcast about the Scottish Thyroid petition - link

[Totoro]

This is a general news site so everyone *should* be able to see this:

news.stv.tv/scotland/226965...

[Hiphypo]

That link works - great news piece - except 'Tony Toft' didn't add much, did he - very limp wristed by comparison. Protecting his reputation I suppose!

[Clarebear]

The girls were all great but Dr Tony got it wrong by saying that only a tiny minority aren't well, but I suppose he is at least acknowledging that there is a problem, but unfortunately he is understating how widespread and severe it is

Fingers crossed that this goes to the next step... Xxxx

[Ploggy123 in reply to Clarebear]

Hi Clarebear. I listened to the excerpt again (thanks Totoro for the link) and I think Dr.Toft's opening statement is perhaps being more general i.e. about GP'S listening to all of their patients with all of their complaints - not just thyroid.? Maybe he was responding to a general opening question e.g. "Do GP's listen to their patients"? Just a thought. xx

[twinks in reply to Clarebear]

Hi the girls were very good, explained well. The Dr as usual was non committal, understated how many arnt well, and the statement, "drs should listen" is no answer as that's what they're supposed to do. (:

Let's hope fingers crossed, this gets taken seriously, and acted upon.

Well done girls x x x

[Hidden]

Thanks for this Totoro. I wasn't able to find it. Well done girls. Boos for Tony!

Jane x x

[Ploggy123]

I thought the piece got great air time, was very good, informative and delivered very well. I also thought that perhaps Dr. Toft understated the numbers potentially affected. However, in this day and age when cost becomes the determining factor for policy and decision makers, maybe the understatement will work in our favour? The other approach, perhaps indicating a silent epidemic (which I'm beginning to believe the more I learn), might be deemed irresponsible, cause alarm and make those in charge of the public purse hide it further under the mattress!

Lets hope today we get a result in the Parliament and further coverage on national media tonight (and keep the momentum going South of the border too). Great piece of work Sandra, Lorraine and Lyn. Wishing you a great result today. Thank you. xx

[RedApple Administrator]

Thanks for the link Tortoro! Fingers crossed for a positive outcome today.

[Piplysmelie]

Is there something similar happening in England?

[lynmynott Partner Thyroid UK]

Unfortunately, the system is different in England. You need to get 100,000 signatures on a petition before it will possibly be debated in Parliament. We are hoping that the Scottish Parliament will set up a short-life working group, the results of which will change the current system for diagnosis and treatment which will, in turn, filter down to the rest of the UK.

[Hidden]

Thank you for the link. It's amazing that this got aired, but yes, an understatement by Dr Toft. I'm glad that the shortage of hormone treatment was mentioned. Fingers crossed about today's discussion in Parliament. Thank you to everyone for being so proactive in this!

[kazatthemadhouse]

Thank you for posting this. It was great & i was also glad that the shortage of meds was mentioned. Maybe some hope for the future that things will get better? Fingers x'd!!!

[OUTOFSYNC]

Hi

The 'very small number affected' phrase, is medical mythology as far as I'm concerned. It goes with the other stories they keep telling themselves for re-enforcement of their out of date beliefs! Like ..... 'it's difficult to diagnose due to having non specific symptoms' - who says? I don't believe for a minute that if they listened, and questioned us adequately (or input our long list of symptoms into a computer) they would not be able to quickly guess what it was.

When we tell them we are not doing well on their 'gold standard' treatment protocol - they say it can't be your thyroid, because you are in ref. range - therefore you have a somatoform problem, or an other unconnected health issue!

So - how would they know the numbers not doing well on their protocol??

Perhaps someone (Rod ?) does know were the figure of 15% - which I have seen used to indicate those not doing well on the standard protocol - has come from??

I would be interested to know.

OOS

[RedApple Administrator]

Have just looked at the Scottish Parliament petition page and see that it has the following update:

28 May 2013: The Committee agreed to invite the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing to give evidence at a future meeting and write to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and Amdipharm Mercury.

scottish.parliament.uk/Gett...

.