The Sunday Post (Newcastle)

MSP: Thyroid patients taking their own lives

- By Marion Scott MaSCOTT@SUNDaYPOST.COM

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.

 ??  ?? Elaine Smith MSP
Elaine Smith MSP

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