I've just finished listening and it was a very good debate. I don't know the name of the last speaker but obviously she isn't hypo and may not know anyone who is and more or less said we shouldn't self-medicate as it could be dangerous (or words to that effect). She doesn't realise we do so out of desperation. The Minister before her did speak, and he had received an email from a relative whose thyroid gland was removed some years ago (maybe 4 not sure) and she's texted him (I think just before the debate) that she was on 400mcg of levothyroxine all that time, and then GP reduced, and reduced and now he's told her she doesn't need levo AT ALL. He said she is extremely ill. He will probably look into the matter and Elaine Smith, MP is hypo herself, so slow but sure steps hopefully. The problem is they quoted the BTA etc etc and I doubt the MP knows most on this forum know far more about suffering than they do especially by stating that levothyroxine is the hormone of choice - they're choice not ours.
I'd still be ill as many on this forum would be if we didn't research search and some lucky enough to see knowledgeable, sympathetic doctors (few are around these days as most have retired) and alternative to T4. It's all very well saying that the BTA and doctors know best - little does she know and she doesn't realise it isn't dangerous as it is hormones. If we took a double dose by mistake, we'd definitely not do that again.
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I missed the first part of the debate, so didn't hear Elaine Smith's speech. My impressions of what the last speaker said - I think she was actually the govt health minister - are similar to yours. It was an example of a politician falling back on statements from the very professionals who are being criticised. It's happened before with other issues. At least the debate will continue with ES's involvement, and there is still the committee report to come.
The MSP who spoke about his relative said she'd been on T4&T3 combo after TT, then T4 only at 300 mcg, and now on nothing at all. That woman will become very ill indeed.
It is all so incredibly protracted. I'm not able to watch it on video now as it makes me angry. The people who verbally oppose Lorraine and Elaine do not know the correct facts.
I was watching it but it kept cutting out and I had to keep getting it back. Was on my tablet, my PC monitor doesn't have speakers. Unfortunately, I lost it when the last but one member was speaking (mentioning his relative) so I missed the last speaker - possibly for the best, I might have got a bit worked up!
All in all I thought it was very good, let's hope some good comes of it.
Gently, gently does it. Before we were hypo we listened and took doctors advice. When she gets to the stage that she becomes hypo she will change her mind if she doesn't recover on T4. We have some members on here who have and are well on levo, even if it surprises (or astonishes) us.
Ooo I missed this - can anyone tell me if I can find it online?
Well done those at Holyrood...this issue has rumbled on for far too long hopefully this debate will raise the issue that people are suffering/dying because of poor/no thyroid treatment ... and that they are not just "making a fuss".
Wonderful impassioned speech from Elaine Smith The Health minister at the end was quoting the BTA guidelines from 2015. Why not their statement from December 2016, which says that a minority of patients need T3, and it should not be removed from the due to cost? And their October 2017 response to the NHS consultation repeats that
She probably thought that was the latest guidelin and despite what they state about not withdrawing if needed, at a stroke the GC have withdrawn T3 regardless of the situation in places patients in. The following is an excerpt by Clutter :
The BTA issued guidance that patients doing well on T3 should not have their prescriptions with-drawn. See FAQS for patients and GPs in british-thyroid-association...
If the CCG instructed your practice to withdraw Liothyronine they should first have consulted on the impact it would have on patients and will be in breach of guidelines if they did not. mills-reeve.com/files/Publi...
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...
Please also sign the petition below requesting better thyroid diagnosis, testing and treatment. change.org/p/itt-campaign-g...
Yes, thanks for this. I'm in Norfolk and we have small active group who have "working with" (feels like "working against") our CCGs. They have removed T3 from ALL doctors, no consultation. And no consultation or signposting for patients re NHS consultation. But we're on to them...
I think they've all got hot-headed when they've learned of the cost but cannot they think beforehand, that to withdraw an important hormone and leave the patient without a suitable replacement - not levothyroxine for many - causes and immense stress and also NDT could be sourced. They could easily prescribe the cheaper T3s (I think there's two) but they don't want the responsibility and would rather patients suffer. Lets stop this prescribing lark for levo and T3 after all they are only hormones and do what some other countries do, buy from chemist but not at the prohibitive price in the UK.
Thanks Clutter. Yes we've seen that, and it's in our list of 'ammunition' to take back to CCGs. We've been working closely with our local Healthwatch too; they're very supportive. Though of course, wheels turn slowly...
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Debate in House of Lords!
The Hypothyroidism Treatment Debate
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