Re: finding a sympathetic doctor

[Guest guest]

,

I don't know if a GP can/will ever refer a patient to another GP (I think i am

right in saying Dr Skinner is a GP rather than a specialist in terms of NHS

bureacracies (OK, he is probably as muc or more of a specialist than many endos

- but the NHS has its structures ...also I am not sure if Dr Skinner works

within the NHS or if he is private?)If you want to see him particularly, why not

give him a ring and ask if you need to a have a referral or whether you can

simply make an appointment (if he is private, and you are happy to pay his fees

you probably wont need a referral).

Alternatively, if you need to find NHS contact points who can deal with things

then you can ask your GP to refer you to an endocrinologist (but ask Sheila for

a list of sypathetic endos and do your research firsta s to which endo would

seem to have appropriate credentials given your particular concerns)....as you

know, all endos are not the same ...they specialise in different areas and some

appear to have a reputation for not dealing well with hypothyroid problems...not

worth the put downs of going to someone who is unlikel to really try to address

your specific problems)

Vicky

>

> does anyone know of or know how I can contact/access a GP in Eat Anglia/

Suffolk area who is sympathetic to patients presenting with hypothyroid symptoms

but has 'normal' blood results? I cannot get a referral to Dr Skinner without a

GP letter and I am struggling to find a GP who is willing to listen or go the

extra mile. Any ideas welcome!

>

[Guest guest]

Dr. Skinner is a private doctor but still needs a referral letter. Many years

ago I wanted to see Dr. Skinner and my GP refused. It was within his rights to

do so, even though I pointed out that it was not going to cost the NHS anything.

With regard to doctors just not referring to other doctors on NHS it might be

quite different in future. Doctors are being encouraged to refer less and less

people to hospitals. What is beginning to happen now is that certain GP's have

an interest in various specialities and if there is no doctor in your own

surgery who has an interest in the condition you have you might get a referral

but to a doctor in another practice (just for that condition). This is what

they are hope will cut costs and also waiting times in hospitals, leaving

hospitals to deal with the more serious and complicated cases.

It is already happening in our area.

It would be very useful if anyone is referred to a GP for thyroid rather than an

endo at a hospital. if they let us know. Only giving full details of names

etc. privately to Sheila of course.

Lilian

> I don't know if a GP can/will ever refer a patient to another GP (I think i am

right in saying Dr Skinner is a GP rather than a specialist in terms of NHS

bureacracies

[Guest guest]

Dr Skinner is a private doctor who works outside of the NHS. Dr

Skinner does need a referral letter from a GP - this is a requirements by the

GMC.

Luv - Sheila

,

I don't know if a GP can/will ever refer a patient to another GP (I think i am

right in saying Dr Skinner is a GP rather than a specialist in terms of NHS

bureacracies (OK, he is probably as muc or more of a specialist than many endos

- but the NHS has its structures ...also I am not sure if Dr Skinner works

within the NHS or if he is private?)If you want to see him particularly, why

not give him a ring and ask if you need to a have a referral or whether you can

simply make an appointment (if he is private, and you are happy to pay his fees

you probably wont need a referral).

[Guest guest]

>> does anyone know of or know how I can contact/access a GP in Eat Anglia/ Suffolk area who is sympathetic to patients presenting with hypothyroid symptoms but has 'normal' blood results? I cannot get a referral to Dr Skinner without a GP letter and I am struggling to find a GP who is willing to listen or go the extra mile. Any ideas welcome!>,

I,m afraid I don,t have any suggestions regarding a sympathetic GP you can access.Is there a possibility you can pay for private treatment?

On a separate note I cannot understand why there has to be this nonsense about referral letters even in the private sector.How can it be right that anyone of us(provided we have the funds!) can access a private doctor in France, Germany, Belgium etc without much trouble and here in the UK it seems to be a case of jumping through hoops and dreading trying to get our NHS doctor to write a referral EVEN for a private doctor?

How can it be so that one doctor NEEDS a referral and another one DOESN,T? There is no consistency albeit sense in the system.How can I not access a private Endo at the SPIRE hospital Murryfield Edinburgh near where I live but I can access a private Endo at a hospital in London(which shall remain nameless)?

And that leads me on to prescriptions too!! How can some of us aquire T3(Liothyronine )as part of our Hypothyroid treatment and others can,t? GPs don,t even have the excuse of saying its not licensed like they do with Desiccated thyroid,so it is all down to personal belief on their part.Like religion almost.Again,how can this be right?

It is all a mish mash of contradictions,controversy and contraindications...

A confused Peary

[Guest guest]

Peary,

I had been on T3/Armour (privately / self medicating) when I was told by GP I am not allowed to take it.

I wrote to the consultant of the hospital to ask if he does ever prescribe T3. He said he did prescribe it but only for patients who have come from outside the area and who have already been prescribed it.

Notwithstanding the fact that I had been on it for 5 years, and doing well, he still refused to prescribe it for me.

Fortunately I transferred to a consultant on Sheila's list who did agree to prescribe T3 for me. But now I am back to square one because he has left the hospital.

Lilian

And that leads me on to prescriptions too!! How can some of us aquire T3(Liothyronine )as part of our Hypothyroid treatment and others can,t? GPs don,t even have the excuse of saying its not licensed like they do with Desiccated thyroid,so it is all down to personal belief on their part.Like religion almost.Again,how can this be right?

[Guest guest]

Interesting comment Peary,

Like you, I am confused by our " system " that on the one hand purports to aim

towards equality of access to healthcare for all, and on the other hand

demonstrates unequivocally how unequal provision is from one area to another,

from one practioner to another.

I actually cannot work out whether I am " pro " a system which ensures equality of

access or not! The more " equality " is a requirement, the more likely it is that

bureaucracy will impose inappropriate guidelines which limit " flexibility " for

both practioner and patient. Not easy, is it?!

Vicky

> >

> > does anyone know of or know how I can contact/access a GP in Eat

> Anglia/ Suffolk area who is sympathetic to patients presenting with

> hypothyroid symptoms but has 'normal' blood results? I cannot get a

> referral to Dr Skinner without a GP letter and I am struggling to find a

> GP who is willing to listen or go the extra mile. Any ideas welcome!

> >

> ,

[Ed]

[Guest guest]

I believe Dr skinner is an Endocrinologist which puts him in the medical

research bracket rather than the General Medical Practitioner bracket and due to

the GMC proceedings against him he cant prescribe thyroid medication without

having a referral from a GP first.I have been trying very hard to find a GP in

Suffolk who would be sympathetic to making a referral but no joy! If any one

knows of a GP in this neck of the woods I'd be really grateful. Thanks

Just had a thought -are there any or can one find a private GP somewhere???

>

> does anyone know of or know how I can contact/access a GP in Eat Anglia/

Suffolk area who is sympathetic to patients presenting with hypothyroid symptoms

but has 'normal' blood results? I cannot get a referral to Dr Skinner without a

GP letter and I am struggling to find a GP who is willing to listen or go the

extra mile. Any ideas welcome!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Tell me and i'll join you! sorry but I have my own problems in this area of the country. However my own GP did refer me to Dr. S, but declined to follow his recommendations which I suppose is a partial sucess. > thyroid treatment > From: ckeith855@...> Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 17:35:26 +0000> Subject: finding a sympathetic doctor> > does anyone know of or know how I can contact/access a GP in Eat Anglia/ Suffolk area who is sympathetic to patients presenting with hypothyroid symptoms but has 'normal' blood results? I cannot get a referral to Dr Skinner without a GP letter and I am struggling to find a GP who is willing to listen or go the extra mile. Any ideas welcome!> > > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Peary, You're absolutely right- it's a mess! Dr. Skinner is a special case at present due to a run in with the GMC- he was allowed to continue to practice, but for 2 or was it 3 years? all new patients had to be referred by their GP as one of the conditions. This restraint will be over soon. As to prescribing T3, well it depends on their training which apparently is short and seems to indicate that T4 to t3 conversion never fails- which it demonstatively does for some folk. The trouble is that most folk do reasonably well on T4 only so the minority that don't get ignored. thyroid treatment From: pearypeary@...Date: Sat, 22 May 2010 15:00:02 +0000Subject: Re: finding a sympathetic doctor

>> does anyone know of or know how I can contact/access a GP in Eat Anglia/ Suffolk area who is sympathetic to patients presenting with hypothyroid symptoms but has 'normal' blood results? I cannot get a referral to Dr Skinner without a GP letter and I am struggling to find a GP who is willing to listen or go the extra mile. Any ideas welcome!>,

I,m afraid I don,t have any suggestions regarding a sympathetic GP you can access.Is there a possibility you can pay for private treatment?

On a separate note I cannot understand why there has to be this nonsense about referral letters even in the private sector.How can it be right that anyone of us(provided we have the funds!) can access a private doctor in France, Germany, Belgium etc without much trouble and here in the UK it seems to be a case of jumping through hoops and dreading trying to get our NHS doctor to write a referral EVEN for a private doctor?

How can it be so that one doctor NEEDS a referral and another one DOESN,T? There is no consistency albeit sense in the system.How can I not access a private Endo at the SPIRE hospital Murryfield Edinburgh near where I live but I can access a private Endo at a hospital in London(which shall remain nameless)?

And that leads me on to prescriptions too!! How can some of us aquire T3(Liothyronine )as part of our Hypothyroid treatment and others can,t? GPs don,t even have the excuse of saying its not licensed like they do with Desiccated thyroid,so it is all down to personal belief on their part.Like religion almost.Again,how can this be right?

It is all a mish mash of contradictions,controversy and contraindications...

A confused Peary

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