GP vs. Endocrinologist

[DiamondGreen]

continued…..

Dear Health Unlocked,

Thank you for very helpful responses.

I wrote to my GP in November 2023, stating that there should be no reduction in my levothyroxine prescription from 75 to 50 mcg daily:

“Previously, directly with yourself, we agreed that my hypothyroid condition would be dealt with and monitored by my consultant endocrinologist Dr. xxx. Your practice would continue to issue my levothyroxine prescription and Dr. xxx (my Endo) would prescribe Liothyronine (T3) accordingly.”

This letter was put on my file, but ignored.

I hand delivered a letter from my Endo this week ( 29 Jan 2024) to the GP confirming no reduction in dose required, and they have sent me a text: “You are due medication review, please call reception to book an appointment with the practice pharmacist.”

I rand the surgery to be told there might be an appointment available w/c 12 February 2024.

I need my new /revised prescription now.

I have not met with an NHS doctor since before 2019, and I am fortunately able to fund seeing a private Endo myself.

Please advise.

Thank you 🙏

[jimh111]

A doctor that writes a prescription takes full responsibility so if they disagree with another doctor's advice they should go with their own opinion. Of course, most GPs will follow an endocrinologist's advice but they don't have to. In view of this I would take a tactful approach.

[radd]

DiamondGreen,

I agree with Jim but also that GP’s are frightened. They are being taught to dose by TSH and then often told by endos to prescribe meds/doses which take TSH below the threshold they consider 'safe'. Many members are very anti-doctor but doctors are between a rock and a hard place.

Why don’t you explain the situation to your endo and ask him to prescribe Levo. The other option is to self treat with meds bought from abroad, which many members have been forced to do, and will share their sources by DM.

[EPNM]

I have Liothyronine prescribed and dispensed by my Endocrine dept / hospital. A GP who didn't know me txt advising me to reduce thyroxine from 75 to 50mcg. I couldn't get a phone appointment to talk to her. My TSH is always very very low and hasn't changed in years. She'd obviously had not read my notes but insisted she had, then said that my thyroid care should be under the Secondary Care team and the practice would prescribe my thyroxine dose as suggested by them. My practice had been doing this for 20 years. Just to say it seems to depend on individual GPs.