Thank you so much for the Scottish Parliament Petition. The main issue it underlined is that the Public need a voice that is listened to.

[JennyRay]

I have just watched the recording of the Round Table Discussion held on 1st October 2013. The Petitioners, Sandra Whyte, Marian Dyer and Lorraine Cleaver deserve our life long thanks. The amount of time and effort must have been immense. Thanks also to Lyn Mynott for her continuing efforts and all those who are supporting us.

The Public need a central place, available to everyone, where all problems connected with healthcare are listed both chronologically and under indexed headings. They should be free to suggest solutions as well as complain.

Doctors and medical professionals need a central place where they can do the same, ANONYMOUSLY.

The discussion made very clear that the 'SYSTEM' DOES NOT WORK. There is no oversight of the professional bodies that produce the guidelines and no way to challenge them when things are going wrong.

[Anuba]

Hear hear

[Hidden]

Thanks Jenny, and well done for managing to sit through the full hour and a half! It was not the most pleasant or productive meeting I've ever attended I love your idea, if only that were realised. I know two years ago i was so ill I was ready to end my life and this site was the catalyst for fighting for my health anew. We have much to thank Thyroid UK for. xx

[headinjuryhypo]

I would like to listen to the Round Table discussion. Is there a link?

[JennyRay in reply to headinjuryhypo]

Yes, I found it on the Thyroid UK website. The YouTube link worked for me.

[AmandaK]

Your ideas sound excellent - not sure how they could be implemented though. Perhaps a website could be set up?

What struck me about the round table discussion was the way in which the members of the medical profession presented the 'facts' in a flawless way, thereby showing their apparent immense knowledge and expertise. It even came across as too well rehearsed! The petitioners and supporters did an excellent job in countering the facts presented.

It was a pity that someone from the medical profession who is on the side of patients couldn't be present to provide a technical response equal to that of Drs Toft and Williams. I wonder if that might have given Chick Brodie the 'evidence' he was urging, given that he seemed to regard what he was hearing as emotionally charged 'anecdote'.

Of course, the problem is that the doctors on the side of patients are largely disregarded and mistrusted within the NHS; hence the plethora of GMC hearings and the edicts from the Thyroid Association.

Which makes me wonder how can the status quo change when there are so few doctors who are prepared to challenge current orthodoxy?

And what will happen when those who do challenge it retire?

It does feel like a 'David and Goliath' scenario - then again, it was David who prevailed in the end!

[tegz in reply to AmandaK]

I got the feeling that the head MSP honchos at the table were quite interested/sympathetic to the petition but that they would need something meaty to get their teeth into to make any change.

If the evidence from the NHS is slow in coming out this will look bad- but is normal in these matters.

A holding operation is already in progress on the face of it.

A real shame that some medical support dropped away due to death and illness, I understand- on two counts.

[JennyRay in reply to AmandaK]

The medical profession ignore the FACT that many of us are living proof that Private Treatment or Self Treatment have brought amazing improvements. I just hope the Committee can see this.

[AmandaK]

Ah, I overlooked that sad fact. Yes, I too got the impression that there was sympathy from the ministers (and the chair).