Amazingly strong people, spending astronomical amounts on treatments that may not work. £31,000 for one dose of a drug!!
My thoughts and good wishes are sent to them
But................. it raised questions. If people are paying the NHS privately for drugs the NHS won't supply as too expensive, then what is stopping hypo patients, RAI patients buying T3 from the NHS privately??
The NHS say it too expensive, its effectiveness is in question and won't supply it, then surely let people willing it buy it privately through the NHS, buy it.
Am I barking up the wrong tree here?????
Written by
Snoddyoddbod
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
what is stopping hypo patients, RAI patients buying T3 from the NHS privately??
I can't afford to pay £250 for 28 pills of Mercury-Pharma T3. And if the NHS supplies anything privately I'm sure they would want a profit margin on top.
You can get them through private prescription, though I dont think anyone should have to. I think in many respects it exacerbates the problem as opposed to resolving it as it means we begin to resign ourselves to a privatised NHS. Undoubtedly it's happening and that program really upset me because I could really see it (as a hypothyroid patient, like most, I see it happening anyway but that was a smack between the eyes). Ultimately the divide between haves and have nots is increasing and most of us are third class passengers ineffectually willing the ship away from the iceberg.
For me to purchased my T3 on a private NHS prescription it would cost £800 every 28 days. That is more than our mortgage!! I would be working solely to purchase my medication and never be able to retire, nor my husband not a happy scenario for me........
However, if you have a good enough relationship with your doctor, he might be willing to specify a non-UK make. Then you could trawl around to find the least expensive way of getting that fulfilled.
This is meant to be a practical way of reducing cost - not addressing the ethical, moral, etc. issues at all.
My doctor is lovely and supports my self medicating and purchasing my own T3 by continuing to monitor me, but she is a very young doctor and will do nothing to bend any rules. ......
Kinda random, but Nicky (the ovarian cancer patient) is actually very active over on the my ovacome community.
On a side note - I am an American, and while I have a ton of issues with our medical/insurances and have often complained about the lack of coverage and copays. Seeing other healthcare structures puts my own issues back into perspective.
We never used to have this problem... our system was excellent but it's on a slow road to privatisation and once that happens then it ultimately means that money matters more than people. Its like a grubby, back alley deal because they know that if they were honest and up front then people in the uk would hit the roof and start to riot again. England has always been immensely proud of the NHS and really don't want to lose it but I think for many people they don't see the extent of the damage as they are fundamentally healthy. It's those of us with chronic conditions who see it being dismantled and particularly those with health concerns that predominantly affect women. Then there are those who believe the lies: we can't afford it (ok but it was created after WW2 and I'm fairly sure we were poorer then), the Labour Party depleted our funds (i don't see how a uk government is responsible for a world wide banking crisis - though I guess they did bail the banks out but then again at least I can still draw money out the ATM as a result so it's a bit of a catch 22), it's because we pay so much to the EU (we recoup more and have a strong position in terms of EU laws and regulations, we have a pretty sweet deal - zero rate vat, no euro... we won't get that back), its immigrants (many of whom work for our healthcare system). People in general don't read enough or ask enough questions imo. I'll be honest, I would loathe a US style system, I think it's quite scary but to me, it looks like that's the plan... bring the NHS to its knees and then people will want it privatised.
I think a portion of it is a matter of perspective. Sure - I think national health care would be amazing here; but also, realize it's unrealistic for America for quite many reasons (the population, gun violence, drugs, etc). However, from watching Hospital, as someone outside of the 'know', I can see the issues facing the system as well. I think it is deplorable that procedures get canceled so many times and getting into see specialists takes months. Then again - I hate that I live in a privatized system that if you are poor you are unlike to get treatment* (Emergency's are required treatment regardless of financial status).
My mum has Ovarian Cancer and even with insurance, she is up to $2000 in copays for treatment and procedures. I have hypothyroidism and PCOS (A fun combination that made my conditions cancel each other's side effects).
Maybe there has to be a compromise within the system. A NHS that is somewhat delayed in treatments or privatization that still has you pay co-pays.
Though - this is said before and if Trumps healthcare gets passed (fingers crossed it doesn't) as my moms out-of-pocket insurance premium for cancer would be over $100k.
I hear stories like this from America and I think it's so sad. I think you're right, there would need to be many reforms to enable a NHS style system in the US particularly around gun control. I think that in england, because we are both multicultural nations, we almost assume the culture is the same in America as it is here but there seems to be a lot of extremes in America that you don't really see here often (Don't get me wrong, have a lot of love for the American people). In terms of compromise I think that it is the first step to losing the system to be honest because it's a bit like if you were to open your door ajar to see who was outside and then an unwanted stranger jams their foot in to prevent you from closing it. You will have to keep constant pressure to stop them from breaking in but they will force their way eventually. I think that the problem really concerns how wealth is distributed... I work in tax and have worked both within compliance for the public sector and global markets for the private... certainly small business are hit harder than large (because they want to keep large business in the country) and tax is more significant on the working middle than the wealthy (not to mention the tax breaks) now that Brexit is going to happen I can only imagine it will get worse.. I cant see how it won't and I do try to keep an open mind. I wouldn't be surprised if Brexit becomes the excuse for the NHSs destruction (but I'm just speculating).. there are people fighting for it over here and doctors and nurses seem to be very worried.
I will keep my fingers crossed for you and for your mother... I hope that she gets well ... sending love and prayers...
I saw a private endocrinologist and paid for one month of T3 through the private hospital. When I went to get the next month's tablets the cost had doubled! So no T3 for me! We are pensioners on a limited income, the cost is exorbitant. My GP was sympathetic but the CCG in our area doesn't allow her to prescribe it.
I did source some from Greece, but I had a skin reaction from that, and am still waiting for a follow up dermatology appointment.
I worked in the NHS for many years and can honestly say that the private patients in no way take anything from NHS patients, in fact they bring extra funding into the NHS. A lot of cancer drugs that are now prescribed by the NHS started off as drugs that were paid for by private patients as experimental treatment. Once the evidence is gathered from these private treatments it is then presented to NICE in the hope that they can be added to the NHS prescribing list.
I personally don't have a problem with someone paying for private treatment if they can afford it.
With regards to T3, there is only one UK supplier so in effect they have the monopoly on the market and have priced themselves out of the UK NHS market...
But I think you have highlighted the problem right there... As the NHS is partially privatised now. Private patients provide extra funding that was originally garnered though fairly administered taxes. As you say, there are treatments available to private patients before they are available to NHS patients... how is that fair? Surely NICE are there to regulate drugs and determine their effect on patients through test groups, not the private sector.... in fact my aunt volunteered to test cancer drugs and she wasn't a private patient. In addition you mention the UK supplier, there is also a regulatory body to prevent that sort of greed so why are they able to get away with it? It takes away from the NHS. because less and less is becoming available through it to provide preferential treatment that will ensure that those who are willing and able to pay will do so... When my mom worked for the NHS private patients got a private room and a cup of tea, now they get life saving drugs that are kept out of reach from the plebs... sorry it's disgusting
Unfortunately treatment on the NHS is now 'rationed' and NICE only approve treatments for use when there is evidence that they are effective treatments for the majority of patients, majority being the operative word. I'm not saying it's correct it's just the way it is. The funding of the NHS has always been finite it's just that now there are so many treatments available and so many sick people there just isn't the money to pay for them all to be free at the point of delivery so someone somewhere decides what we can and can't have...
Yes I accept that but the monetary issue is really one that comes from taxation and government priority. Certainly the last two/three governments didn't prioritise health and I think this last one has been particularly bad. NICE have always evidenced through focus groups but these formerly consist of volunteers for clinical trials not private patients getting preference. It's not an issue with individuals who want to look after their health or save their own lives, my issue is that this is happening at all. We all know that stopping T3 was a death sentence for some (myself included, now most of my money goes on private prescriptions) but there are all these little trickles of information that show privatisation is happening... how quickly a trickle becomes a flood... my worry is that people are becoming apathetic and worse, resigned to this because when it goes, it will be devastating for everyone.
Ps don't read this as me getting nasty with you - that's not my intention... just expressing a point of view x
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Elderly Mum Taking T3 - Withdrawn by Brighton Hospital Endocrinologist
Coronavirus hospital appointments cancelled 
Hospital tests results
Been to hospital today
