The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs

[Josiesmum]

This programme looks interesting:

bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07w52tp

BBC1 9pm this Thursday

[Hidden]

Is this NHS propaganda? You can bet your life that they had to screen it before broadcasting!!

[Josiesmum in reply to Hidden]

I really like this guy, from the trailer I'm assuming he's against the standard NHS approach of dishing out pills instead of looking for the causes of ill health.

[Hidden in reply to Josiesmum]

Josiesmum - apologies for my cynicism but this morning the headlines were that current NHS standards of care can not be maintained. Of course if the NHS stopped handing out so many pointless pills then there'd be more money in the kitty.

Thank you for posting about this and I shall be watching on Thursday.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

How so? Prescriptions aren't free.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

StellaHolt - if you're diagnosed hypo you're entitled to an exemption card that means you don't have to pay for ANY prescriptions.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you cinnamon_girl. I meant that most people have to pay for their prescriptions.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Free prescriptions in Wales and Scotland for all, free prescriptions for children and over 60's in England (not sure about N. Ireland). Don't reckon many people pay!!

[hebden in reply to Hidden]

I pay for my prescriptions and I cannot work through ill health and now on low income. I have been prescribed many unnecessary meds in the last 2 years alone (all paid for by me) because the doctors are not prepared to look at the bigger picture. I also cannot get doctors to listen to me when I know I have a thyroid problem and my TSH is over 7.3 (range 0.38 - 10) and I have all + more of the symptoms of hypo. Just cant get proper diagnosis. In the end costing NHS more as I keep going back to GP with more symptoms and sent to specialist who discharge me because they don't know what to do so pass the buck to another department.

I will definitely be watching this programme Thursday and hope its not been edited too much.

[Hidden in reply to hebden]

I share your frustration hebden but with a TSH of 7.3 you should be taking thyroid meds. In fact if you look at the BTA statement it does say that patients should be investigated if they have symptoms when under the so-called reference range:

british-thyroid-association...

I have Lyme disease and have to pay for a private doctor, also have to buy my own T3. This is not sustainable, am unable to work and at some point in the not too distant future I shall have to claim benefits.

When you have people forced to crowd fund for medical treatment it demonstrates very clearly that the NHS is failing patients. The tax payer is forced to pick up the tab whilst a lack of accountability means that the perpetrators subject some to an existence with no quality of life. It's shameful.

[hebden in reply to Hidden]

I agree it is shameful and its also inhumane. Ive been banging my head against the wall with doctors for the last several years. I know I should be being treated with thyroid meds with this TSH and symptoms but all I keep getting told is "normal" and go and lose weight or here are some anti depressants. Ive changed GP surgeries twice in 4 years (and looks like Im going to have to again after only 2 months at my current one). I have paid tax since I left school many moons ago as have my OH. When I lost my job through ill health early 2015 I had to claim benefits as no choice financially but this still doesn't entitle me to free prescriptions or help with any other bills because of the type of benefit I have been put on. I can't afford to go private and have used my birthday gift money from my family to pay for a private blood test. I don't think I will be able to afford to purchase T3 so don't know what I will do if the GP doesn't take note of any results I get from BH test.

[crabapple in reply to Hidden]

Hi cinnamon girl & Hidden

In 2012, 88% precription items were free.

politics.co.uk/reference/nh...

Don't imagine it's changed much since

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to crabapple]

I don't know how that accounts for Prescription Prepayment Certificates - in statistical terms. Is a PPC regarded as "paid for"? Or the first 12 items as paid-for and the rest "free"? Or what?

But I agree, the number paying is low as a percentage.

[Zephyrbear in reply to Hidden]

...and of course if they stopped allowing themselves to be taken to the cleaners by pharmaceutical companies charging £258.20 for a pot of 28 T3 tablets when these can be obtained elsewhere for less than €2 there would be a hell of a lot more money in said kitty! And I'm sure that this is not just the case with T3, but a whole range of drugs across the spectrum!

[Hidden]

I'll be watching I saw the promo too. 'M'