Annual NHS Blood Test

[Patch0317]

Hi,

I’ve just had my annual thyroid blood test and I am absolutely speechless……

When I checked my results it showed that the NHS test only checked my TSH, the NHS didn't even check my T4 as the standard annual check.

We have no chance of them completing a full thyroid blood test.

Luckily for me I am in good health so I’m not impacted but I can imagine this isn’t helping people who are impacted with thyroid symptoms, if they don’t show up on the TSH test.

[farrellkl68]

I’ve never had my T4 tested in Cheshire , until my TSH hit 0.1.

They test in Hull where my relative lives .,

[McPammy in reply to farrellkl68]

I live in Cheshire and I use to always get TSH and T4 checked. Now I’m prescribed T3 liothyronine they always check my T3 also. I get my bloods checked every 3 months by my gp. And every 6 months by my nhs Endo in Cheshire. I think it’s a surgery lottery on how much they’ll spend on you.

[farrellkl68 in reply to McPammy]

To be fair , I’ve never asked but I will next time !

Which area of Cheshire are you ? Interested as you gave T3 and my conversion rate is poor

[McPammy in reply to farrellkl68]

Chester area. Chester hospital will do T3 testing if your gp requests it but in my experience will not prescribe it They might do now though but wouldn’t 5 years ago

[farrellkl68 in reply to McPammy]

Thank you .

[greygoose]

I can imagine this isn’t helping people who are impacted with thyroid symptoms, if they don’t show up on the TSH test.

I think this is the whole idea, to be able to prescribe as little thyroid hormone replacement as possible - and to diagnose as few people as possible! They just don't want to deal with it.

Meanwhile, prescribing as many drugs as possible to treat each symptom as if it's a separate disease, thereby making Big Pharma rich. But, I'm just an old-fashioned cynic!

[Patch0317 in reply to greygoose]

Totally agree with you, absolutely ridiculous.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Patch0317]

I'm one of the lucky ones or maybe my results on the NHS have been often so skewed that they feel driven to investigate further. But I've often had TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested in my area.

How long it will continue, who knows? I remember telling my pharmacist that the NHS now often only tests TSH and he was horrified. Completely inadequate.