MSP: Thyroid patients taking their own lives
MSP Elaine Smith says thyroid patients have taken their own lives because of treatment failures.
The Labour politician, 54, who became ill after developing thyroid issues, believes a parliamentary debate this week will lead to much better treatment for sufferers.
Shesaid:“Itisa tragedy that some patients have died by suicide or died of medical complications due to an untreated or under-treated thyroid disorder, which is primarily a women’s health issue.
“ThePublic Petitions Committee has been collecting damning evidence for six years clearly illustrating the failures of the NHS to effectively treat patients with thyroid disorders.”
On Thursday, committee members will debate their findings.
Ms Smith, who collapsed in Holyrood due to problems with her treatment, said: “I hope this will be the start of a process to progress the poor treatment of thyroid sufferers, in line with countries throughout the world which not only offer substantially better treatment but have negotiated much more cost-effective medicine.”
She said: “I want Scottish Health Boards to honour the government position over prescribing Liothyronine ( T3) where it is safe and clinically appropriate.”
She said the drug costs the equivalent of £25 for 100 tablets in Germany and Sweden, while the NHS is being charged more than £800.