T3 Withdrawal

[Summer64]

Has anyone that's had their T3 stopped actually complained to the surgery they are under? I made my complaint to the CCG and have got nowhere as they have misinterpreted the guidance from British Thyroid Association etc but Healthwatch have told me I should make a complaint to my surgery and copy the CCG in. I can't see the point of this as my GP's hands are tied as the CCG he says are his employers and he has to do what they say. I don't want to find myself black listed at the surgery as there are no others in my town but Healthwatch say, "GP's can make their own assessment based on each patients' clinical need". They stress that NHS England," is issuing "guidance". My CCG said they are the NHS and can make their decisions on their own. I just feel I'm banging my head against a brick wall.

[shaws Administrator]

I will add Clutter as she has an explanation I believe. Many have had their T3 withdrawn. A life-saving hormone with not one iota of notice. We shouldn't have to source our own and you've been dropped right into the saga by having it withdrawn altogether. It's is absolutely inexcusable.

[Clutter]

Summer64,

Healthwatch is right. CCGs do not have the authority to tell GPs what not to prescribe. Individual GPs, not CCGs, could be found in breach of the General Medical Services contract if they do not prescribe treatment patients have been told "they need".

bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j36...

The GPC has warned that GPs would be in breach of the GMS contract and could get into legal trouble by following the orders and refusing to prescribe patients treatments they have told them they need.

gponline.com/gpc-warning-ig...

CCGs can make local decisions but have a duty to consult before imposing decisions which impact on patients. If your CCG didn't do a consultation then they may be in breach of agreements. mills-reeve.com/files/Publi...

[shaws Administrator in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter. I was going to print it out for my GP but I don't like this para on the document. I understand of course about 'wasteful or ineffective.

"NHS England has now launched its own consultation process to identify areas where “wasteful or ineffective” prescribing can be reduced.4 However, although a national process is better than local processes, NHS England has not stopped CCGs from continuing to roll out their own restrictions on prescribing—even though some of these will inevitably conflict with the guidance produced by NHS England when it completes its consultation process."

(I highlighted in bold )

That's confusing.

[Clutter in reply to shaws]

Shaws,

CCGs can roll out their own restrictions on prescribing but they are supposed to do impact consultations too. If they didn't, and I suspect many haven't, they may be breaching NHS agreements. mills-reeve.com/files/Publi...

[shaws Administrator in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter,

I certainly hope so as I know my surgery has stopped although, thankfully, I have my own at present although they have prescribed in the past.

[Summer64]

I don't know what to do now. I don't blame my GP it's the CCG. Maybe I would do better to make an official complaint about them. They must have a complaints procedure.

[Clutter in reply to Summer64]

Summer64,

Go after your GP as the CCG doesn't have the authority to tell your GP not to prescribe and go after your CCG too if they didn't do a public consultation re withdrawing Liothyronine.