Thyroid UK Latest News

ITV are making a programme about DIY home health testing kits;
Diabetes, Cholesterol and Liver Function tests in particular.

We’re especially keen to speak to people who:

• Have done a number of these home tests; we’re interested to hear why people choose home testing over going to their GP, whether they’ve found the kits accurate, whether they’re value for money when you can be tested for free at your GP, whether the kits are easy to understand and whether the availability of home testing kits is ‘encouraging’ people to worry more about ill health, or simply empowering people to be more pro-active with their personal health care.
  

• Have had either a false positive or a false negative readings from a home testing kit i.e. someone who has done a home test for, say diabetes and the result has come back positive – however, when the person was later checked out by their GP, the results were normal. Or the other way round; the home test came back negative and the person later discovered that they DID in fact have the illness they had tested for.
  

• Prefer to use home testing kits because they feel their GP isn’t / wouldn’t be sympathetic to your request for testing etc.
  

If you think you may be able to assist us, or would like to talk to us about your experience then please get in touch as soon as possible:

Nicola Corrigan
Tonight with Trevor McDonald

Tel: 07986 099188
Email: nicola.corrigan@itv.com

Update on Availability of Armour Thyroid

I know that many of you are taking Armour Thyroid and are having a hard time obtaining this at the moment due to their change in processing. The manufacturers of Armour Thyroid, Forest Pharmaceuticals, have never been particularly forthcoming in their information to the public and when I have contacted them in the past, they have shown no interest in helping us to promote their product. One of our Committee Members has contacted them on behalf of another group that he is involved with:

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From: Peter Warmingham
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2008 4:26 PM
To: Info, Med
Subject: Availability of Armour Thyroid Tablets
Importance: High

Dear sirs,

I am the newsletter editor for my local thyroid self help group here in Nottingham, England, and am preparing our May 2008 newsletter which will contain an item about the problems currently being experienced in the supply of Armour Thyroid tablets.
  I would therefore like to enquire about the availability of Armour Thyroid Tablets across the full range of strengths. I understand that they are currently available only in 0.25 grain, 0.5 grain, 1 grain and 1.5 grain and that there are continuing difficulties in sourcing tablets in strengths above 1.5 grain.
I would be interested to know please just exactly what the underlying problem is with the supply of Armour Thyroid Tablets and when it will finally be resolved.
I have also heard reports from members of our group that they have noticed some differences in their Armour Thyroid tablets  - they are less pungent and softer in texture as if slightly damp (they are normally quite hard and crunchy).  The same people report feeling under medicated lately, although they have not altered their dose, suggesting that the tablets are less strong than they should be.   This makes us wonder if there is any link between the supply problems, the texture and odour of the tablets, and feeling under-medicated.

Thanking you in anticipation of your reply,
Yours faithfully

Peter Warmingham,
Newsletter Editor, Thyroid Self Help Group
----------------------------------------

From: MMcCulloch@forestpharm.com"
To: Peter Warmingham
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 1:52 PM

Subject: RE: Availability of Armour Thyroid Tablets

Mr. Warmingham,

Forest is performing a process change to further enhance the quality of our product - Armour Thyroid.  The strengths currently involved in this change are 2GR, 3GR, 4GR, and 5GR.  If we maintain our current schedule, these strengths should be available again in September.  During this time we do not anticipate any availability or service level issues involved with our 1/4GR, 1/2GR, 1GR or our 1.5GR tablets.

We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

Please contact us directly at (800) 678-1605 ext. 66298 should you have any further questions.

Thank you,

Melissa McCulloch
Customer Service ▫ Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
----------------------------------------------

From: Peter Warmingham
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 3:22 PM
To: McCulloch, Melissa
Subject: Re: Availability of Armour Thyroid Tablets

Dear Melissa,

Thank you for the information about the process changes you are undertaking.  May I enquire please if these process changes would have any effect on the final product, ie the reduced pungency, hardness and possibly potency of the tablets.  The loss of hardness is described as being reminiscent of an old biscuit which has gone soft.  I am also hearing reports that when getting the new tablets out of the bottle, dust and crumbs now fall out as well.  I would point out that the people noticing these changes have been taking Armour for many years and so are very familiar with the product.  Unfortunately the same people are, as I said, finding that they feel less well than they were and are naturally wondering if there is any connection between how they feel and the process changes that are being introduced.

I feel that users of Armour Thyroid would very much appreciate some information as to the nature of the changes being introduced and the reasons why they are necessary, given that Armour Thyroid is such a long established product and it is difficult to see why changes should be necessary.

Whilst stronger doses can be made up by taking several lower dose tablets, I'm sure you will appreciate that this is a more expensive way of doing it given that the lower strength tablets cost more than the higher strength ones so I hope that the higher strength tablets will be available as soon as possible.

I apologise for sending another email but please be aware I am in the UK!

Regards,
Peter Warmingham
Newsletter Editor, Thyroid Self Help Group
-----------------------------------------

From: MMcCulloch@forestpharm.com
To: Peter Warmingham
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 1:57 PM

Subject: RE: Availability of Armour Thyroid Tablets

Mr. Warmingham,

The process changes that our manufacturing division is conducting are being completed in order to enhance the quality of the 2GR, 3GR, 4GR and 5GR. At this time, we do not have the specifics available with respect to the details of these changes. I have attached a response from our Quality Assurance Dept. regarding the reduced pungency that you had mentioned below.

Thank you,
Melissa McCulloch
Customer Service ▫ Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc
---------------------------------------------

Attached Response from Quality Assurance Dept.
April 23, 2008

Peter Warmingham
Newsletter Editor
Thyroid Self Help Group
 
Dear Mr. Warmingham:

This letter is in follow up to your email to Ms. Melissa McCulloch regarding the issue of “less pungent” odor of Armour Thyroid tablets.

As you may be aware, Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. manufactures and distributes Armour Thyroid. Recently a change was implemented in the packaging of the Armour Thyroid product.

The principle ingredient in Armour Thyroid tablets which gives the product its strong characteristic odor is Thyroid Powder which is a natural material derived from porcine thyroid glands. The material may vary in degree of odor from lot to lot; however, this odor is not associated with the amount of active ingredients which are the two hormones, Levothyroxine Sodium and Liothyronine Sodium. These hormones are odorless. The odor is associated with organic volatile substances which can vary from lot to lot.

The packaging changes of adding a silica gel desiccant and foil induction liner have been demonstrated to improve the stability of Armour Thyroid tablets by reducing the amount of moisture penetrating the container and being absorbed by the tablets. Claims that the product is less pungent than normal may be related to the use of Thyroid Powder that was less odorous than normal, or due to packaging improvements that provide a less humid environment and likely absorb some organic volatile substances which create the odor, or a combination of both. The lessening of the odor appears to be a favorable result of the packaging improvements.

I hope this information has been helpful.
Sincerely, Quality Assurance Department
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Forest Pharmaceuticals have put back the date of availability a few times now and the latest information was that they would be available by the end of September or early October. As soon as I hear any further news on this, I will inform you.

Dr Hyams is suspended for 6 months!

Dr Hyams sends a message,

“The findings have come as a shock to me. My intentions for my patients have always been to offer them the best care, based on the medical knowledge that I have accumulated over the years. I do wish to thank my family, patients and colleagues for their support during this difficult time.”

One of Dr Hyam’s patients has sent an email to his secretary, Judy Hayman,
“I've been sitting here for 10 minutes trying to take it in and I have no idea what to say apart from I'm so deeply sorry for Dr H. He has done so much for me and I'm just so upset that someone has lost so much by helping me. I can't believe I'm sitting in the  public library typing this in tears. Why do the good guys get attacked? This is not justice...”

Thyroid UK has been watching the events of Dr Hyam’s Fitness to Practice quite closely, as we did with Dr Skinner’s Fitness to Practice. We wanted to do anything we could to help and when I was asked by Dr Hyams’ solicitors to travel up to Manchester to give mitigating evidence on behalf of Dr Hyams on Thursday 26th June 2008, I accepted, hoping that it would make a difference.

They asked me to get there for 9am so I travelled up the day before and stayed in a hotel so that I could get there on time. Other patients were giving evidence too and we all met up for dinner on the Wednesday night.

We were all there on time ready to discuss our evidence with the solicitors. Everyone was called one at a time and as the time went on, I wondered why I hadn’t been called for my chat. Two other patients were not called either. Patients then started being called in to give their evidence and I still had not been in with the solicitor.

Just before lunch, the solicitor came out and called me in, only to tell me that they were not going to use me as a witness. He felt that my evidence (mainly thyroid based) wasn’t going to be helpful as Dr Hyams had been proved on writing an inappropriate advert and using Live Blood Microscopy. His patients who were in the waiting room with me were shocked that I wasn’t going to give evidence and made their views known to the solicitors, however, they still didn’t want me to give evidence.

The solicitors told us that they could not understand why the GMC panel were so against the use of Live Blood Microscopy and that there had been a lot of evidence to show that it was used widely, both here and overseas. However, at the end of the day, it seems that Live Blood Microscopy is part of “alternative” medicine and should not be used for patients.

The GMC were also concerned that patients that went to see Dr Hyams were vulnerable and taken in by him. This is absolutely ridiculous and if I had been allowed to speak I would have told the panel that, in fact, it’s the vulnerable patients who stay with their GP and are told their illness is all in their head. It’s actually the strong patients who look elsewhere for a reason for their illness. None of the patients who spoke on his behalf showed any vulnerability and explained that Dr Hyams had, in fact, changed their lives. Obviously, the GMC Panel did not listen.

Dr Hyams now has to wait to see if the Medical Protection Society will pay for an appeal (the solicitors have said it is being discussed but we all know that discussing and doing are two different things, going by Dr Gordon Skinner’s case).

I do believe that any doctors who use Live Blood Microscopy may be in big trouble now and that they should all get together and discuss what can be done about this. If they don’t, we don’t know who will be next, do we?

Lyn Mynott Giving Talk in Peterborough

Lyn Mynott will be giving a talk entitled “Thyroid Disease and Related Conditions” on SATURDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2008 at:

ORTON HALL HOTEL,
ORTON LONGUEVILLE
PE2 7DN

Registration is at 10.30am with refreshments and the talk will start at 11.00am. There will questions at 11.30am and Lyn will be available to chat personally.

Tickets will be £3.00, (which includes first drink and biscuits)

For more information contact: Sandra Cochrane, Tel: 01733 241784.

30/07/2008
THYROID UK IS NOW
A REGISTERED CHARITY!

It’s taken a long time but we have done it at last!

We have been working towards becoming a registered charity for a very, very long time! First we had to become a company limited by guarantee and for this we had to write our Memorandum and Articles of Association. This is what took the most time as we had to be very careful how it was written. We had many drafts of this!

Once we were a Company Limited by Guarantee, we then had to apply for charitable status. It took us some time to do this as forms had to be signed at Committee Meetings, which we only hold every three months. The Charity Commission asked us to change our Memorandum and Articles of Association to be in line with the new rules and, we are extremely happy to tell you that we are now a registered charity!

Being a charity brings with it rules and regulations in all kinds of aspects and we will need to be very careful to stay within the boundaries but I see no problem with this.

It also means a lot of benefits such as being able to apply for grants to pay for projects and being able to apply for Gift Aid, which will bring us extra money so that we can achieve our objectives.

There will be some changes to our structure in that there will be a membership and we will keep you informed of this as it progresses.

Thyroid UK wins place on DH Pilot Scheme

New quality assurance on the way for health and social care information

Thyroid UK has been chosen by the Department of Health from over 120 applications to participate in the testing phase of a new scheme to ensure good quality information across the health and social care sector.

The information accreditation scheme will combat substantial variation in the quality of health and social care information available and will provide a way for the public and professionals to know that the information they are using is reliable.

It will also support information producers in raising general standards and will be focused at the organisation level – accrediting the source of information rather than the information itself.

Thyroid UK is testing the scheme alongside others from the commercial, public and voluntary sectors. Subject to achieving certification through this testing phase, Thyroid UK will become one of the first scheme members when it launches in 2009.

Ann Keen MP, the parliamentary under-secretary for health services, said, “There is so much information out there that it’s hard for people – both the public and professionals – to know what can be relied upon. A scheme with a recognisable quality mark, will assure them that information is from a dependable source.

“Over 120 applications were received by DH and Thyroid UK is one of just 40 organisations to have successfully made it through the application process. The work of these test sites will be invaluable in providing knowledge and insight for organisations who are considering joining the scheme in the future.”

As part of the testing phase we will be involved in:
• testing the scheme Standard
• sharing our experiences in order to support the development of case studies
• helping to develop the visual identity of the quality mark.

We will keep you updated on our progress over the coming months.

Click here to see the full Press Release

EDM 1745 – General Medical Council Complaints System

Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atsham, has headed an Early Day Motion in respect of the GMC.

If you believe that the complaints mechanism of the GMC fails to comply with standards of fairness and due process required by the European Convention on Human Rights, then perhaps you should ask your Member of Parliament to sign it.

----------------

Early Day Motion - EDM 1745

GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL COMPLAINTS SYSTEM

10.06.2008

Kawczynski, Daniel

That this House believes that the General Medical Council’s (GMC) complaints mechanism fails to comply with standards of fairness and due process required by Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights; observes that the GMC's role in investigating, prosecuting and sentencing falls below the standard required of an independent and impartial tribunal; notes that in practice the GMC represents the interest of parents in cases where doctors suspect abuse; further notes that children themselves have no independent representation to present a doctor's concerns; further believes that no published guidelines appear to guide prosecution decisions and that, as prosecutor, the GMC amends and adds charges in an ad hoc fashion; considers that doctors are uncertain of the allegations they face, compromising their ability to mount a cogent defence; further considers that the GMC calls expert witnesses with clear conflicts of interest in the proceedings who are unrepresentative of mainstream practice or opinion, and that the GMC adopts a populist, punitive, deterrent and disproportionate approach to sentencing; further considers that the GMC’s apparently arbitrary admission and exclusion of evidence extends to ignoring the findings of previous investigations into a case conducted by an accused doctor's employer; further believes that the GMC values the public perception and integrity of the profession above individual rights; and further observes that, contrary to basic principles of justice, the GMC appears to assume the guilt of doctors before it, and refuses to acquit when a conviction is impossible, instead finding 'no realistic prospect of prosecution'.

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=36031&SESSION=891

Thyroid UK Medication Survey

This survey is now closed - thanks to all who participated.

We know that many thyroid patients are not happy with some aspects of their medication. E.g. some people are cutting tablets in half because of a limited range of dosages, some patients don’t want to keep going back to their doctors for prescriptions every three months and some patients want more information on the Patient Information Leaflet etc.

Thyroid UK has therefore taken the opportunity to run a survey to find out what patients really want in regard to their medication.

We are pleased to say that Goldshield Pharmaceuticals are sponsoring us for the cost of this survey.

The completed survey needs to be returned to us by 21st August 2008 and as soon as the results have been analysed, we will let you know the outcome.

It may help you to complete this survey if you read ALL the questions prior to starting the survey.

Please print off the survey and return it to us at:
32 Darcy Road, St Osyth, Clacton on Sea, Essex CO16 8QF.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Ruth Scott of Scope has submitted a Petition on the 10 Downing Street website in respect of the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in full, without reservation or limitation, by December 2008.

For more information go to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/noreservations/#detail

Have your say on the NHS Constitution

The proposed NHS Constitution published today is about safeguarding its core principles and values for the next generation, while setting a clear direction for the future.

It reaffirms rights to NHS services, free of charge and with equal access for all, and it enshrines patient rights to choice and to NICE-approved drugs recommended by clinicians.

It aims to empower both staff and patients, containing clear pledges on the ways in which the NHS will strive to go beyond the stated rights to improve the working environment.

It has been developed from the bottom up, with the active engagement of staff, patients and the public.

We are consulting widely on its contents and how to put it into practice until 17 October 2008.

See below the draft Constitution and the Consultation document, along with leaflets and booklets explaining more, here.

See the NHS Constitution consultation page here.

To feedback your own comments on the draft Constitution you can email nhsconstitution@dh.gsi.gov.uk or you can write to;

NHS constitution
Room 611a
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London
SWA1 2NS

Forest Pharmaceuticals Changing Manufacturing Process

Forest Pharmaceuticals is changing the manufacturing process of Armour thyroid at this time. They are calling it an enhancing procedure (you may have noticed that the new batches no longer have a distinctive odour).

1 grain and lower strengths are available now. 1.5 grain will be available after the 9th of July. Higher strengths are flagged for distribution end of September or early October. No strength is going to be discontinued.

16/05/2008
Availability of Armour - Update

I have been informed that some strengths of Armour Thyroid are not going to be available in June, as I was previously told by Forest Pharmaceuticals.

Forest Pharmaceuticals now say,
“If we maintain our current schedule, these strengths (2, 3, 4 and 5 grains) should be available again in September.”

Has anyone tried the alternative brands, NatureThroid or Westhroid? Do let us know if you have.

GMC Attacking Another Good Doctor

Dr Hyams helps many patients with ME and thyroid disease improve their health and I think it is a shocking waste of time and resources to try and prove ridiculous allegations against a doctor who only has the best interests of his patients at heart.

Dr Hyams had his first hearing in October 06. There were three weeks of legal wrangling over the use of patients’ records without their permission, the fact that the Medical Act doesn’t apply in Guernsey and trying to decide which Data Protection Laws were correct. What a waste of taxpayers money! The Hearing was then adjourned to an unknown date in the future. That date was 1st May 2008 and is being held in Manchester – a place some of us know so well!

I am pleased to say that Thyroid UK was instrumental in getting Dr Thierry Hertoghe to be the Expert Witness for Dr Hyams, as he was for Dr Skinner. One of the Expert Witness for the GMC is our old friend, Prof A Weetman.

One of Dr Hyams’ Campaign Team has sent a message:
Could I ask you to spare a thought for Dr. Ian Hyams and his Legal Team when this Case opens on Thursday the 1st May and is due to run for a month.

I am speaking out now as a patient when I say how bitter we feel about this.  What a waste of his talents, having to spend time fighting this case when he could be helping patients.  That’s quite apart from the ludicrous cost of all this.  Are patients complaining? No, just doctors.

Isn't it time the medical profession listened to some of us patients who have been helped to get our lives back together again when we were relegated to the scrap heap by conventional medicine.

There are so few doctors out there who are prepared to try and help us who suffer from chronic health problems.  Why should we be told that no one can help us when we know there are doctors out there who can, and do, help us lead a normal life again.  Why are they being targeted in this fashion?  So many of the Integrated Doctors in the UK are being targeted.  I have said so many times - don't chastise them - clone them.

Dr Hyams has sent a message to all his patients:

Dear Patient

As you all know, the hearing commencement date is imminent, and I wanted to extend my gratitude to you all for your prayers and support. I feel very passionate indeed to defend these unfair allegations and to protect the rights of doctors such as myself to practice Integrative Medicine and also for patients to access Integrative Medicine if they so wish.
I have spent a lot of time with my lawyers preparing our case and I am so grateful to Judy for what she has done in helping with the campaign.

I assure you that I am thinking of you all during this time and I believe that God will give us the strength that we need to get through the next couple of weeks.

Bless you all
Ian Hyams MBChB, LMCC

I will keep you all informed of how the Hearing progresses