GP offered me a private prescription for T3. Advice needed.

[Clare59]

I would appreciate your thoughts. I am seeing my endo today and my GP called me in last week to ask if I would change from my NHS prescription for T3 to a private one costing £50 for 3 months supply ( to be obtained from somewhere in Europe). I asked what would happen if we come out of the EU, which looks imminently likely and she didn't know. Has this happened to anybody else? I feel like its taking a risk to say I will go private, what if my GP leaves and a replacement does't want to carry on the prescription. My Endo has tried to cease giving me the T3 but I have challenged this citing NICE guidelines. I am angry and upset that my medical treatment is being reduced to cost saving measures.

[Aurealis]

Book yourself on an Assertiveness Training course

How unkind of your GP to place you in this position. Is your GP going to find out about the supply issue after Brexit before asking you for your decision. Ask for her question to you and her response to yours in writing so that you can take advice I think that may quell her enthusiasm to remove your prescription.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Clare59

You currently have your T3 prescribed on the NHS at no cost to yourself.

My Endo has tried to cease giving me the T3 but I have challenged this citing NICE guidelines.

As you are challenging this, hopefully you will be able to prove your need for it and be successful in keeping your prescription.

I am seeing my endo today and my GP called me in last week to ask if I would change from my NHS prescription for T3 to a private one costing £50 for 3 months supply ( to be obtained from somewhere in Europe).

1) Did she say why?

2) I didn't think GPs can charge for writing a private prescription.

3) The only advantage of this is that your GP's surgery will be relieved of the cost of supplying T3 which is, admittedly, expensive but that's down to how the NHS has failed to negotiate a decent price when purchasing this medication.

4) If you accept the private prescription you will have a £50 charge for a new prescription every 3 months, plus the cost of obtaining the T3. If it's no longer possible to source from the EU then you will have to pay the UK price which is currently £173.86 for 28 tablets compared to approx 30 euros for 100 tablets, plus postage, currently from Germany.

5) No-one knows whether we will be able to obtain T3 with a prescription from pharmacies in Europe after Brexit. Nothing has been announced by the government and nobody can possibly guess. I think there is more chance of us not being able to use UK prescriptions in Europe than there is of being able to continue using them.

what if my GP leaves and a replacement does't want to carry on the prescription.

Exactly. It's very likely that another GP may refuse to continue the prescriptions.

My thoughts are to not upset the status quo. Do not agree. Push to have your prescription continued on the NHS.

It's very plain that the move your GP is suggesting is not in your interest.

[Hay2016]

As a one off I probably would knowing 100 x 20mcg is £40 from Germany. However, no one knows what will happen after 31 Jan. If your gp will reinstate your script if we can’t get from Europe I would but we shouldn’t have to. I have fought for 3 yrs to get it acknowledged I need it. Hubby can’t understand why as we can happily get it from Germany. I feel like a beggar asking for a private script from a gp that huffs and puffs. We shouldn’t be made to feel like 2nd class citizens. Xx

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As if appalling situation many thyroid patients currently find themselves in, was not bad enough, thousands unable to get NHS to prescribe T3........now the whole situation is looking like it might get much worse for anyone who is forced to get T3 from Europe on private prescription

Absolutely refuse to accept private prescription.

Guidelines are quite clear a GP should not alter T3 prescription

pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clini...

If your GP is concerned about the cost she should be lobbying her MP to resolve the outrageous price being charged to NHS, instead of haranguing her patients

Perhaps print a copy of this article for your GP and suggest to your GP that the Government/NHS should be vigorously pursuing the originators of problem

mjauk.org/wp-content/upload...

[TaraJR]

You're lucky to have this GP. In my CCG, a GP can in theory refuse to take on T3 prescribing initiated by an endo, as it is via a Shared Care Agreement due to T3 'being a high-cost drug.'

[Clare59]

Hello to all

Thank you for your advice and comments. The endo was extremely supportive and helpful and my T3 has been increased and he did not agree to me paying for a private prescription, as yet.