Thyroxine

[howlyn]

Please can some one help me can a GP stop your thyroxine because you are under a Private Consultant.My sister GP have stopped hers and she as to buy it now.Please have she got the right to do that.Thank you very much

[Fruitandnutcase]

Don't know for certain but I imagine they can, I've known people who have seen consultants privately (not for thyroid issues though) and somehow or another they have been issued with NHS prescriptions - either from the consultant or the consultant has written to their GPs. I've known of people who have gone for a private consultation then ended up on that consultants NHS list. Does your sister's endo practice on the NHS at all?

Don't know whether your consultant could do that for you. Has your sister's consultant written to her GP? Why won't her GP issue her with a prescription for thyroxine? Does he feel she doesn't need it?

Hopefully someone will be able to offer more help.

[howlyn in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you for your reply he have been giving her the thyroxine the past 15 years now all of a sudden he says he is not doing it anymore. She is under a private Consultant who gives her Armour.The Consultant only does private work.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to howlyn]

Not sure what country you / she is in but I imagine it must be because it is Armour she is wanting. I don't use it but I have a feeling most people who are not taking thyroxine or T3 have to buy their own meds.

[howlyn in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

South Wales i thought the GP had a obligation to the patients where thyroxine are concerned i wondered thank you for your reply

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hi, I'm new to this forum but not thyroid disease (40+ years experience of that!). A few years ago I was going through a bad time and my GP was absolutely no help, wasn't willing to experiment with different dose of thyroxine because my test results fell within the normal range. I went privately (non-NHS - Dr P and later another) who was willing to help. My GP refused to have anything at all to do with my thyroid health while I was seeing the private doctors and as I wasn't on thyroxine with them I wasn't having any prescriptions from my GP.

So it depends who your sister is seeing. If it's a consultant who does NHS work and you've paid to see them privately at a hospital such as The Spire or a BUPA hospital, you can be put back into the NHS system for the medication (that's happened with my son for something different). If you've gone to a private doctor outside the NHS (say Dr P or Dr M) then the GP can refuse the medication.

[howlyn in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your reply she went to a Private DR he gives her Armour but the GP does give her Thyroxine but now all of a sudden he said he is not doing it anymore.

[Clutter in reply to howlyn]

Howlyn, I think, but am not sure, that your sister's GP is entitled not to treat her thyroid if she is receiving thyroid treatment elsewhere. Has your sister asked why her GP will no longer prescribe Levothyroxine?

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Clutter]

Yes, it would be interesting to know what was the reason given for no longer being prepared to prescribe thyroxine?

Did he say if he would he prescribe levothyroxine if she stops seeing someone privately? And also if she stops taking armour?

[howlyn in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

No all he said he have taking it off her prescription he is not very happy with her she do not know why. Thank you

[Fruitandnutcase]

What about finding another GP? Is that a possibility? Failing that sounds like she will have no option other than to buy her own.

[howlyn in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

She will have to buy her own like you said. Thank you

[shaws Administrator]

I think they can stop prescribing levo particularly if the private doctor has prescribed NDT.

I think the reason would be that if the person has an adverse reaction the doctor who didn't prescribe wouldn't want to deal with the consequences and they know nothing about NDT either. They wouldn't want the responsibility or lose their livelihood.