T3 on the NHS

[knackersyard]

Nobody wants the NHS to be privatised, but I wish they would recruit executives with a proven track record in the private sector.

I mean what sort of idiot would have ONE supplier?

gov.uk/cma-cases/pharmaceut...

It beggars belief.

[knitwitty]

I have flagged this CMA investigation up with my MP but all is quiet at the moment.

The fact that the NHS have allowed this state of affairs to develop leads me to only one conclusion, that someone is making a lot of money at the expense of patient care, and no one really cares within the general endocrinology community as the inflating of the prices have been allowed to continue for many years .

[jimh111]

NHS procurement is terrible. This was highlighted by the PPE fiasco. This has been sorted politicshome.com/news/artic... , we can only hope that when COVID is out the way they will sort out the rest of procurement. I'm also against privatisation but the current NHS needs a kick up the backside, too much failure is tolereated.

[LindaC in reply to jimh111]

And 'pigs will...' sorry, but there seems little hope that these 'trivial [to them] chronic issues in patients' will be addressed. I recall saying way back that an 'A' Level Business Studies student could do better re purchasing, but that was never the issue. Much more afoot than straightforward incompetence.

[jimh111 in reply to LindaC]

True. I suspect liothyronine price increses were accepted because the BTA (at the time) were against prescribing. Also the drug companies 'bundle' stuff together so the government accepts high prices on some drugs for 'discounts' on others. In addition there is probably a degree of corruption with contributions or the prospect of contributions to political causes. A large factor is though utter incompetence and lazyness on behalf of NHS administration.

[LindaC in reply to jimh111]

Totally! Appalling lack of standards. xox

[JAmanda]

Yes, madness, but I just got T3 on nhs by Morningside - who are not related to Advanz (barring market collusion and price fixing as I just saw in the press! It all seems corrupt)

[Lora7again]

My husband thinks the NHS should be privatised and he was a hospital manager for 22 years. He and I both became concerned about what was happening in the service and we have now both left.

I was actually admitted to the hospital I used to work in during the 80's last year after suffering a thyroid storm. I was appalled to see nothing much had changed since I last worked there. There were elderly people lying on trolleys in corridors because there were no beds available for them on the wards. This was in July so I dread to think what it would be like in the winter months. I and my husband were put in a cubicle with one chair so my husband had to sit on the floor while we waited several hours for my results. In the end I managed to grab the Consultant concerned and ask him if he had my blood result. He scrabbled in his pocket and brought out a piece of crumpled paper and read out my TSH level. He then admitted he knew nothing about thyroid disease and wasn't sure if I had just had a thyroid storm. He did know there was nothing wrong with my heart so discharged me with a letter to give to my GP the following day.

I have noticed how well the NHS has coped with COVID-19 after the government gave them loads of money and resources. It's a pity they didn't do this all the time and perhaps the service wouldn't be on its knees with lack of funds etc.

[Babette]

I'd like to see it privatised but on a not for profit basis. Definitely not the same model as the US!

Without knowing the full story - and your husband will know far more about this - I'm not entirely sure lack of funds is the problem. How much money could be saved by sorting out procurement and improved processes and procedures? Quite a number of years ago, there was a very interesting programme where businessman Gerry Robinson went into Rotherham General to try to make improvements. His lessons learnt is here: open.edu/openlearn/money-ma...

I spent less than 2 years working in the civil service (not NHS) during and after university and it drove me mad. The inefficiencies, tolerated "relaxed" attitude, poor IT systems, etc were such a waste of taxes and there was no desire to change. Some friends work in other areas and it sounds as though they're the same.

[Murphysmum in reply to Babette]

I totally agree Babette . I worked both for a university and the private sector for a nutrition company but it works the same as pharma does.

It drove me mad. Right down to how they ordered the biro pens. The money is no one in particular’s and no one gives a damn.

Our company used to give massive rebates to the health authorities who ordered from them. Hence why certain things are available in certain areas, or certain things are on their prescribing list... it all depends on which company gives the largest rebate. And no other brands may be used or they risk losing that rebate.

The whole thing is corrupt and drives me mad.

[Sharoosz in reply to Murphysmum]

The money is ours - taxpayers - and that's why no one gives a d....! And "Protect the NHS" - they can stuff that you know where. What's to protect? They are making an idol out of it and at the same time refusing patients access to the system.

[Hillwoman in reply to Murphysmum]

Don't damn the entire public sector! Local authorities in particular have been held by central government to such stringent standards of procurement and justification for any expenditure, even the most minor, over the past 30 years that such regulation has led to a considerable time burden. It has had a significant impact on the professional duties of local government officers, much as teachers have found with DoE micro-management over a similar period. What happens in central government civil service departments and institutions like the NHS may well be quite different.

[tattybogle]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but i believe there are now 3 suppliers of liothyronine, but of course they all charge silly money and it didn't bring the price down much at all.

The question of the CMA investigation, has gone suspiciously quiet.... kicked into long grass methinks.

Many ,many parts of the NHS have been being quietly privatised for years, for eg. cleaners etc now on reduced rate per hour and worse Terms/conditions /rights of employment. to name but one.

Under Tony Blair....Private Finance Initiative

Under David Cameron...Health and Social Care Act 2012

In July 2019, it was announced that the NHS would be partnering with the Amazon Alexa to offer health advice directly from the NHS website.