Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Mobile version of the Forum Click here

media

Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: Calling any legal people on here  (Read 4736 times)

Daisydot

  • Guest
Calling any legal people on here
« on: June 14, 2018, 12:16:46 PM »

I'm just wondering if we have any para legals or lawyers on here who can draft a standard template letter for the ladies here who are having such horrendous problems with GPS surgeries.Refusing them lifesaving items like inhalers or epipipens or life support items like hrt because they think they are so godlike they are punch drunk on having that little bit of power over people's lives.
You know what I mean like Martin Lewis website they have huge sucess with taking on beurocratic pen pushers by providing template letters to assist the ordinary consumer because that's what we are at the end of the day " consumers".
It just gives people a chance to respond instead of feeling so deflated and defeated when at such a low ebb. Come on guys do your bit to help.if your a proffesional on here then your a fellow sufferer or you know someone who can help then be a compassionate indivudual and give something back.xx
Logged

CLKD

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 79046
  • changes can be scary, even when we want them
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2018, 04:57:09 PM »

Ask Dr Currie for advice?  I think that she should be contacting any Member who has problems as stated here and then sending up-2-date advice to those GPs 'named and shamed'!!!

Anyone who doesn't have a legal background or money behind them doesn't have an ice-cream's chance in hell of getting anywhere.
Logged

Daisydot

  • Guest
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2018, 06:58:12 PM »

Firstly i actually deleted this post clkd so that's very strange it's reappeared.
Secondly the only advice Dr Currie has ever given me 're uncooperative GPS is to change your gp.Thats alright in theory but it doesent address the problem does it.We like to bleat on here about bucking the system to help other ladies but if we continually move on how's that helping anyone.Im going nowhere now because I have nowhere left to go so it's that old scenario of cornering the rat isn't it do it often enough and they'll bite back.All that needs to be done is choose an area then run an updated course with the partners from local surgeries being mandated to attend or it will be reflected in their funding.job done.why is it so difficult to put this in motion.If anyone wishes to complain about their practices now I've showed how to by following the advice I gave to Annie.thats why I deleted this original post you don't actually need any legal knowledge I had just hoped someone would bite.xx
Logged

Daisydot

  • Guest
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2018, 08:07:29 PM »

Hi Hasty unfortunately as I've said here before you can shove all the pieces of paper you want at these Gps but you cant force them to read or even acknowledge them they just got pushed straight back at me.
You must go through official complaints procedures to get anywhere.
When I initially complained to the practice manager and when I continued to call their bluffs they backtracked and covered their arses well by saying in an email they had now complied with everything my consultant and I had asked for and had put my meds on repeat.which they actually haven't I have to specifically request them and I get them sometimes but not always.they also said they were concerned at my financial stress and that's why they suggested referring to nhs gynie.that in no way related to the conversations we'd  had in the surgery where I was told I shouldn't be on any hrt at my age despite my meno expert saying on the contrary and they would only discuss if I went to a gynie of their choosing.I reminded them of this in my response to their email and refused the referral as i had a meno expert not a gynie.they now know that I will respond to any more obstacles from them by going to the GMC and making a formal complaint which they don't need.We have no other way of fighting this if they won't stick to the rules then neither will I.When I get home I will continue my battles with them and no doubt my stress levels will increase but long shot is I'm getting there slow but sure i refuse to be bullied.
Logged

Annie0710

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3862
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2018, 08:13:31 PM »

I argued the NICE guidelines at this gp whilst in his office for that hour.  He replied they're guidelines, not rules.  I couldn't answer back on that one

The gynae who wrote to my old gp ‘suggested' ‘trying' testosterone, this gp picked up on she wasn't ‘instructing' a gp to prescribe it ! X
Logged

Sgtvhilts

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 330
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2018, 08:18:43 PM »

I am quite new to this site and have read loads of posts about difficulty in obtaining treatment, usually cantankerous GP's. I guess i am lucky as at the moment my gp's are compliant-lol-.
What I don't get is what is the problem. HRT is not , in the scheme of things expensive at all. In fact the one i take is about £6.50 a box and i pay £18 prescription charge!, but even the so called expensive ones are really not, when you think abut what it prevents.
What is it all about...... imdespair, but in my experience complaining usually= closed ranks, but going to the media on the other hand..... just a thought- no one likes external scrutiny and bad publicit!
Logged

Annie0710

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3862
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #6 on: June 14, 2018, 08:23:27 PM »

I think this my gp thinks  my hrt is going to kill me off early.  I said at least I'll hsve enjoyed my life, he didn't share my humour x
Logged

Daisydot

  • Guest
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2018, 08:29:41 PM »

What's happening here Annie us they're playing with words probably as instructed by their legal departments.
My meno specialist put on his report he recommended I start testosterone now and he's aware it's off licence but he would be happy to do this and continue to prescribe it for me and this gp jumped on this and said see" he will prescribe" not us.
What you have to now ladies when you go to any private meno consultant is ask them to request your gp to prescribe their recommendations on the nhs when they send their report with recommendations.play them at their own bloody games.My previous gp looked at me in disgust when I showed him Dr Curries private email with recommendations and said to me who is this woman anyway ive never heard of her and refused me the treatment.this was way back when I first started trying to get help.Its been a long long battle of wits for me and I'm getting better at it and refuse to lie down to their poor judgements.I have 8 other females in my immediate family and I won't see them suffer like this.
Logged

Tiddles

  • Guest
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #8 on: June 14, 2018, 09:05:13 PM »

Is there not a body that regulates GPs like there is for the social care sector or the energy industry ?
Logged

Daisydot

  • Guest
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2018, 09:13:33 PM »

Yes actually there is Tiddles the CQC is responsible  for regulating them.I was hoping someone with some knowledge of the system would come on and offer some advice but obviously not as yet.We will have to just rely on advising each other using due process and any experience we have.
Logged

Tiddles

  • Guest
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2018, 09:28:28 PM »

It's so upsetting and infuriating and just not what we should be experiencing in 2018.  I really feel for you and on a selfish note am so worried about having to change GP next year when we move, given the battles I had to go through with the current GP to get HRT. xxx
Logged

Tiddles

  • Guest
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #11 on: June 14, 2018, 09:29:41 PM »

Thank god for MM and the people on here.
Logged

Hurdity

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 14080
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #12 on: June 15, 2018, 08:17:49 AM »

There was a thread recently discussing NICE and rights etc here:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,39957.msg634106.html#msg634106

I also did a post on that thread with what I could find which I will quote here:

I also looked up the NHS website about our rights to a specific treatment and it is a bit vague - here is the link:
https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1317.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=154

Here is the relevant extract:

Your GP doesn't have to prescribe a particular medication or treatment for you if they think it's not the right option. You're entitled to ask for their reasons for the decision.

You're also entitled to make a suggestion and explain to your GP why you believe a certain medication or treatment is a good option.

Remember that:

    some types of treatment aren't available on the NHS
    you need a referral from your GP to have some types of treatment on the NHS, such as cosmetic surgery

Second opinion

If you're not satisfied with your GP's advice, you may want to consider getting a second opinion. Although you're not legally entitled to a second opinion, a healthcare professional will rarely refuse to refer you.

You may feel happier with a different GP, but be aware they may give you the same advice.


It also says this:

NICE and NHS medicines and treatments

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) regularly looks at new medication and treatments to assess whether they:

    are safe
    are more or less effective than other medication or treatments
    represent value for money by assessing how well a medication or treatment works in relation to its cost

NICE will not automatically reject a medication or treatment because it's expensive. NICE recognises that something can be both expensive and represent good value for money.

The NHS in England and Wales is legally obliged to fund medicines and treatments NICE recommends.

This means that when NICE recommends a medicine or treatment, the NHS must ensure it's available to those people it could help, normally within three months of the guidance being issued.

So, if your doctor thinks a medicine or treatment recommended by NICE is right for you, you should be able to get it on the NHS.

It does not mention formularies - as presumably these are as seen above, local recommendations.

A few years ago there was a press article quoting the then Chairman of NICE and saying we should be more pushy re medication. This was in 2014 and I'm not sure how things have changed since then but might be worth having a read:
https://menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,24333.msg371939.html#msg371939

I'll just re-post the relevant bit from the above thread 9 from 2014):

Here is a recent article by the Chairman of NICE ( National Institute of Health and Care Excellence) who says patients (sadly) need to be more pushy with their doctors (difficult when you are feeling hormonal)!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10595806/NHS-patients-should-be-pushy-with-GPs-about-treatment-and-drugs-says-health-chief.html

In it he says this:

"Patients should adopt “American” attitudes and be more pushy with their doctors about drugs to which they are entitled, the head of the NHS rationing body has said.

Professor David Haslam, chairman of the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), said British patients should become more assertive and see themselves as “equal partners” with their doctors, with legal rights.

He said patients in this country needed to learn from the Americans, who are far more confident about entering into dialogue with family doctors about their health, and taking an active role in managing their health.

Prof Haslam said too many patients were not being offered medications approved by NICE – and should learn more about their conditions and ask for drugs which should be prescribed for them.

In an interview with The Telegraph, he said: “When products have been approved for use by the NHS by Nice, patients have a legal right to those drugs - as long as they are clinically appropriate. The take-up should be much higher than it currently is." ...... "

For example: Utrogestan is the only body-identical progesterone licensed for HRT - and I would suggest you have a right only to use body-identical products should you so wish - rather than only being able to get these via expensive and unregulated compounding pharmacies.


I'm not sure where you would stand in terms of rights when asking for example for Estradot over Evorel patches or gel over patches ( if you are not allergic to patches), or Sandrena over oestrogel etc?

Re tesosterone - since there is no licensed product available for women I imagine there is no obilgation for any GP to prescribe it on NHS or at all despite what a private consultant muight say - this is probably the luck of the draw and based on individual GP willingness to prescribe off-licence.

You probably have a right to ask for a referral on NHS though under certain circumstances ( if your GP has insufficient knowledge and experience and in which case if an NHS gynae prescribes it off-licence the GP should follow suit?

Take from that what you can!

CLKD that is not Dr Currie's role - to intervene in specific cases. It doesn't say that anywhere on the website. The only thing we can do is to pay for specific advice for £25 as Daisydot has done and unfortunately the GP is under no obligation to follow it. That the GP had not heard of Dr Currie/this website and is treating menopause speaks volumes - sadly.

As Hasty says - the starting point is to quote the NICE Guidelines but if a GP refuses to follow them.... hmm I would suggest a complaint is in order!!!

Hurdity x

Logged

Daisydot

  • Guest
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #13 on: June 15, 2018, 09:42:27 AM »

Thank you Hurdity x
Logged

Loulou1960

  • Guest
Re: Calling any legal people on here
« Reply #14 on: June 15, 2018, 12:22:44 PM »

Hi,look up your clinical commissioning group guidelines in your are..i live in Essex and searched there site...they stated they prescribe oestrogel and urogeston as the .third alternative HRT  to tablets first,patches second . Tablets not advised due to my medical history and patches fell off due to hot sweats lol,so only option was gel .!! Hope this works
Logged
Pages: [1] 2