Re: Terrible experience with private doctor

[Guest guest]

Hi Honey

I first saw a private doc who was reccomended, but v.expensive, he was very

quiet and for me, just not right. I started seeing Dr P and what a difference,

listens, understands, might I add cheaper also. Can you get to see him? I think

you will find you will be much happier with him, don't give up yet.

Luv Stephie

>

> fact that his patient was waiting so long for him had nothing to do with me.

In the past he has wrapped things up 10 mins early during a phone consult and

I've never complained.

>

> Nhs, private? Does it even matter anymore....

>

> I'm not even sure what to do now, find another doctor who will prescribe,

honestly....

>

[Guest guest]

I need a doctor who can prescribe because I want to be able to get my medication

from a pharmacy rather than online which is proving a bit of a hassle for me.

It's just that I expected this doc to be able to prescribe for me when I

required it but despite the cost he's left me with the NHS to sort things out

which is just...

I'd seen another private doctor in the past who prescribed me T3 so I expected

it to be easy to get a prescription, private doctors do prescribe without

getting the GP to do so don't they? That's how I thought it worked.

I just want a doctor who will prescribe natural thyroid for me now, that's all.

Thanks for your help,

>

> Hi Honey

>

> I first saw a private doc who was reccomended, but v.expensive, he was very

quiet and for me, just not right. I started seeing Dr P and what a difference,

listens, understands, might I add cheaper also. Can you get to see him? I think

you will find you will be much happier with him, don't give up yet.

> Luv Stephie

[Guest guest]

Hey Sheila,

He's not an endocrinologist, he's an intergrative private doctor.

I'm not quite sure exactly what the problem with him prescribing is except that

I came to him already getting my meds online and didn't upfront require

prescriptions from him. Up until the end of the consult I presumed he would

prescribe then it just took a weird turn. I actually went to him because I was

looking for a Christian doctor thinking it would be a different experience but

the practice and my experiences with him were not great unfortunately.

I've been thinking of making a complaint because one of main reasons for the

consultation was that I would get a prescription. He told me he needed an up to

date thyroid test results and wanted me to come in and have him do the tests.

However I knew I would be getting them for free at my NHS endocrinology

appointment so declined and waited until then. But I provided it and then he

refused to prescribe instead offered to oversee my care. My GP is unaware that I

take natural thyroid instead of the thyroxine they prescribed although I did say

to him that I would inform them. I'm sure he is not ignorant to the fact that

many people with thyroid issues who come to him do so due to the fact that they

have difficulties with the NHS - to advise me to go back to my GP to do the real

work while paying him seems strange.

Bearing that in mind, what do you think? I have to say, I am a bit peeved.

>

> I think the endocrinologist wants to save his own practice money by getting

> the GP to use his practice allocation of funds to pay for it. There are many

> NHS endocrinologists who prescribe both synthetic T3 and natural thyroid

> extract for their patients (I know mine does) because some GP's refuse to

> prescribe natural thyroid extract because it remains unlicensed in the UK.

> In such a case, the hospital pharmacy gets in the NDT and the patient picks

> it up from there. I would challenge this endocrinologist again. I can't

> think why he would recommend it for you but refuse to give you a

> prescription for any other reason.

>

> Luv - Sheila

[Guest guest]

Hello Honey and Sheila,

Could I just butt in here to clear up a point, please? (- which, of course, has nothing to do with the principle of obtaining a script from this private doctor)

Honey said:

I need a doctor who can prescribe because I want to be able to get my medication from a pharmacy rather than online which is proving a bit of a hassle for me....

I obviously do not know what kind of hassle Honey has experienced in getting get her NDT online, but I am just wondering about the monetary implications of a private script. I have not gone down this route myself with NDT, but it is my understanding that when you hand in a private script at the pharmacy for NDT, everybody takes their cut and it works out considerably more expensive than when buying the same product online. Didn't we have a similar thread on here some months ago, where someone told us about the ridiculous amounts of money a certain pharmacy charged for filling a script for Erfa? I can't remember the exact circumstances, but just as another example, I got a private script for something from my ENT doctor and when I had the script filled at the pharmacy, they charged me more than double of what the item actually cost.

[Guest guest]

Perhaps I didn't properly asses the costs involved but with the customs charge

and other charges and delays etc. I ended up thinking getting my meds privately

would be a better, easier option. I did contact one UK pharmacy and the costs

didn't seem astronomical but I've have been so stressed and overwhelmed lately

that it's very possible I got the wrong end of the stick. I think I just thought

it would be easier and easy was an attractive option

Something I'm now wondering about is other private doctors, if what has happened

with my doc is a regular occurence? Perhaps some people (like I myself in the

beginning) already get their meds online and so this issue never comes up?

Thanks

Hp

>

> Hi - you are absolutely right. The cheapest way to get

> prescription medicine is via the NHS route. The next cheapest way is via an

> Internet Pharmacy route where you can purchase outside of the UK without a

> prescription. The most expensive way is via a private doctor giving you a

> private prescription where, as you state, everybody involved gets their cut

> and you end up paying double the actual cost of the medication.

>

> Luv - Sheila

[Guest guest]

I don't think private doctors are any more inclined to prescribe NDT ot T3 than

NHS ones in my experience. I'd seen a couple of private thyroid consultants

before finding this site and neither would prescribe me either, then I saw one

highly recommended one from the list from this site and they also would not

prescribe me T3 and even said it was 'inexplicable' that the thyroxine did not

help me, which was really helpful I must say.

I did exactly the same as you in that I went to see private consultants thinking

it would be worth paying the fees if I could just get a prescription and then I

would go from there. Unless you're very lucky it seems that just doesn't work

with this illness. I'm now seeing Dr P and buying my own meds - not ideal as

far as NHS/GP situation is concerned but I'd far rather see someone with the

courage of their convictions who treats their patients with empathy and

compassion, than pay another rude idiot who charges me the earth and won't even

treat me and then claims it's all my fault.

For me it was just a minefield, an incredible waste of time and money and in the

end I gave up trying to get someone who could prescribe and just looked for the

best doctor to treat me, regardless of whether he can prescribe or not. You

won't get better anyway if those who can prescribe won't so in my experience you

would be better off seeing Dr P and buying your own meds - mine get delivered to

my door and I've had no problems with them and there are plenty of people on

here who can help you. I also don't believe my GP would prescribe thyroid meds

even if an NHS consultant did if they are that against it they won't prescribe

whatever happens.

I know some people see Dr P and start to get better buying their own meds and

then try again with the whole NHS ********'s which is something else you could

try. But I wouldn't keep trying to find a private consultant who will prescribe

because I've seen far too many who will happily take your money and do nothing.

I know it used to be the case that you would get nowhere with the NHS with an

illness so you'd go private to get it sorted out quicker, but I've found with

this illness it just doesn't work this way. Bad attitudes exist however much

you pay out.

>

>

> I've been saying this private doctor from the list of good docs intermittently

for the past year.

>

> He offers phone consultations which cost the same as an in person appointment.

I booked a phone consulation to discuss some things also with the intention of

getting a prescription which without an appointment attracts a £10 charge. He

informed me towards the end of the consultation that he wouldn't be able to

provide a prescription for me due to the fact that my Gp isn't prescribing

natural thyroid for me and it would interfere with his care. The reason I've

been seeing him is because I know my GP will probably not do this. If I was able

to get it from my Gp I would be paying to see him.