Interesting post : Bristol NHS 'causing harm' to... - Thyroid UK

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Interesting post

Alisbabas profile image
15 Replies

Bristol NHS 'causing harm' to patients by withholding thyroid drug

'People’s lives are being blighted'

By Cyril Dixon JJ Donoghue

bristolpost.co.uk/news/bris...

This was last year.

Alis

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Alisbabas profile image
Alisbabas
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15 Replies
Hypopotamus profile image
Hypopotamus

It is still ridiculously expensive at £63. There is no reason for it not to cost the same as thyroxine, then we can all get it when needed.

Alisbabas profile image
Alisbabas in reply toHypopotamus

I totally agree

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toHypopotamus

Cost of 20mcg tablets now down to £42.48 per 28 tablets

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Fluffysheep profile image
Fluffysheep in reply toSlowDragon

I couldn't see which brand of tablets it was at that price, do you happen to know?

I'm currently given capsules, but would prefer tablets if possible. I'm vegetarian, so whilst I deal with the fact that I sometimes have to take medication that has gelatine in because there aren't alternatives, it's not ideal. Given that the tablets are now cheaper, I'd like to request they change, as can't see a reason for them not to?

Easier to fiddle about with doses too if you're on tablets.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFluffysheep

20mcg tablets available by Teva, Morningside and Mercury Pharma (Advanz)

Kathleen-1 profile image
Kathleen-1 in reply toSlowDragon

then why is Boots saying they cannot get Morningside for mr because their reimbursement does not cover the cost?

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toKathleen-1

Because the price quoted here is how much the NHS will pay the pharmacy. Not how much the pharmacy will be charged by their supplier.

I really don't know what we can do about this but I would raise it with any and every body you can think of. It is madness.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toKathleen-1

Try small independent pharmacies

Format for how GP should write named brand added

Large chain pharmacies are generally disinterested in supplying anything other than what’s on the shelf even if prescription is written correctly to qualify for full reimbursement from NHS/Government

How to specify named brand
Kathleen-1 profile image
Kathleen-1 in reply toSlowDragon

the problem is test we have no small I dependant pharmacies in our small country town and we are housebound!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toKathleen-1

try online pharmacies

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

You will need GP to specify brand on prescription

FrostyKnickers profile image
FrostyKnickers

It is lunacy that they're withholding T3 when they only end up spending more to treat everything that comes from not prescribing it. Short term thinking, or plain ignorance I'm not sure which but if we were properly treated and medicated it would save the NHS a fortune

Alanna012 profile image
Alanna012

It's great the more sunlight on this issue the better, it's scandalous.

McPammy profile image
McPammy

I was trying to explain this situation to a group of friends at the weekend. I’ll send this link to them. They just couldn’t understand why I had so much trouble in the past trying to get the correct medication liothyronine T3. I was recently asked by my NHS Endocrinologist ‘do you know how lucky you are to be prescribed liothyronine on the NHS’. My answer was ‘definitely’. I keep my private only endocrinologist annual consultation too just in case the NHS pulls the plug. I think what has swung it for myself is that my TSH and levels T4 and T3 are always in range.

Sparklingsunshine profile image
Sparklingsunshine in reply toMcPammy

When I hear comments like that it really annoys me. It shouldn't be down to luck, its not charity, we pay for the NHS through our taxes. If needed T3 shouldn't be down to postcode lotteries or the bias of the Endo.

Would an NHS consultant say that to a cancer sufferer on a very expensive life extending drug or to parents of a child with a rare condition trying a cutting edge experimental treatment? I somehow doubt it.

McPammy profile image
McPammy in reply toSparklingsunshine

I completely agree. I would never have believed it until I was in this terrible situation. Friends seem as though they don’t believe me. They think I’m exaggerating or I don’t need T3. I couldn’t stand up or walk to the toilet before I got it I got that bad. We should be treated equally across the country. Any other country and it’s prescribed. It’s all about the cost of it to the NHS. But not prescribing means people are constantly knocking at their doors for help adding to strains on NHS. People unable to work etc. if you need it you should be able to get it.

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