Patients told to treat themselves to save NHS cash !

[Guest guest]

Daily Telegraph today. "Patients told to Treat hemselves to Save NHS Cash".

Here is the link to this article. I have written a response (see below) don't know if it will get published, but here goes. Anybody else wishing to have their say on this matter, please drop them a line.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/02/nhs102.xml

Luv - Sheila

______________________________

Sir

The NHS budget would benefit considerably following the institution of a properly taught protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism.

As a consequence of the serious and widespread inability of medical practitioners to recognise the symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism, not having been adequately taught in medical schools, tens of thousands fail to recognise the disease, and, as a result, refer their patients to a whole raft of specialists within the UK, and unnecessarily prescribe inappropriate, yet costly drugs.

Some common and often incorrectly diagnosed symptoms and dangerous consequences of low thyroid include: serious mental problems, seizures, heart disease, diabetes,including misdiagnosis and complications, constipation resulting in colon cancer, all female problems (due to high amounts of dangerous forms of oestrogen), including: tumours, fibroids, ovarian cysts, PMS, endometriosis, breast cancer, miscarriage, heavy periods and cramps, bladder problems leading to infections, and others....

The current situation, whereby NHS doctors are leaving patients to self-diagnose, self-treat, and self-monitor owing to a lack of understanding of thyroid disorder, is unacceptable. The NHS need to rethink its diagnosis and treatment protocol for thyroid disorders, to raise awareness of treatment options, provide educational and emotional support for sufferers which would result in enormous savings being made.

Patients are having to leave paid employment, ending up on State Benefits, thus adding to Government expenditure. The prospect of millions of hypothyroid sufferers being denied a proper diagnosis and treatment is appalling.

The Government and Medical Schools should take note and act immediately.

Yours sincerely

Sheila

Thyroid Patient Advocacy-UK (www.tpa-uk.org.uk)

[Guest guest]

I've written a comment, as you say, it will either get published or

not!!