Great News hot off the press.

[stig5882]

bbc.co.uk/news/health-42179765

[Clutter]

Stig5882,

Please provide a brief explanation of what members should expect to see when they click on a link as per posting guideline #14 healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[stig5882 in reply to Clutter]

Sorry clutter I have never posted a link before but will remember this in future.

[Quokka]

Thanks for spotting this. I wonder if it means that all liothyronine prescriptions have to be written by endos, or just the initial ones when they say there's a clinical need? Then they pass it on to GPs, as they do now?

[stig5882 in reply to Quokka]

I'm not sure but I understanding of it is any new prescription will have to be via an endo after that who knows? :/ but many who have had their existing prescription stopped should now have it restored though they may have to be reassessed by an endo.

[bantam12 in reply to stig5882]

After that it's down to the GP but unless the cost comes down they still won't/can't prescribe, that's how I read it anyway.

[Clutter in reply to bantam12]

Bantam12,

Me too, with the possible exception for patients who were recommended by NHS endos and had it withdrawn by CCGs or GPs due to cost. CCGs can make local decisions whether or not to prescribe.

[Clutter in reply to stig5882]

Stig5882,

Not necessarily. CCGs are entitled to make local decisions and withdraw T3 but they should consult first and may be in breach of agreements/guidelines if they didn't.

mills-reeve.com/files/Publi...

[Clutter in reply to Quokka]

Quokka,

It means that the recommendation to prescribe Liothyronine should be made by an endo. Endos usually, but not always, write the initial NHS prescription and GPs should issue the repeat prescriptions.

Some CCGs have said that if the recommendation comes from a private endo the private endo should issue all prescriptions, not NHS GPs. So it may be best to request referral to NHS endocrinologists but I imagine referral waiting times will increase significantly.

[bantam12 in reply to Clutter]

And as a huge majority of Endos won't prescribe it as they don't believe it works the situation is still no better.

[Clutter in reply to bantam12]

Bantam12,

Agreed. I do wish they wouldn't impose their prejudice onto patients who are doing well on Liothyronine. It is so arrogant.

[Hidden]

This is better but with 6000 patients per year requiring T3 if all of these have to be seen by an Endo first NHS would have to find many more i.e. training them up would take for ever.

The delay for patients would be unacceptable.

Perhaps they mean to say that the first port of call would be en endo and then thereafter the persons GP could prescribe T3. It is not at all clear.

Thank you for the information.

[MariLiz]

The endocrinologist I saw privately wanted me to have Liothyronine. He wrote twice to my GP, but she said that the CCG wouldn’t allow them to prescribe it. So I don’t think this will change anything for me.