Update - November 2007
The closing date for this EDM has now passed. Unfortunately it did not achieve enough signatures to be debated in the House of Commons.
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New Early Day Motion - Note from Diana Holmes (June 2007)
Dear All,
I submitted a 'paper for discussion' to Dr Ian Gibson, titled, The Polemics Surrounding the Diagnosis and Management of Hypothyroidism, covering unacceptable medical terminology such as the words 'normal' and 'cut off' points, and sole reliance on thyroid chemistry etc. The paper is well referenced.
In December 2006 Dr Skinner and I met up with Dr Gibson. The outcome of that meeting was that Dr Skinner would try and initiate placebo controlled trials, which included trying to source funding for clinical trials and contacting the MRC (Medical Research Council).
Subsequently I approached Dr Ian GIbson with a request for a further meeting with other ministers. On the content of the 'paper for discussion' Dr Ian Gibson readily agreed to host such a meeting. The meeting was held on June 11th 2007 and lasted over two hours. The outcome was that a further EDM would be initiated and I was asked to write it up. I have of course in the write-up asked for the DOH to be approached to introduce acceptable guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism.
Dr Skinner was again encouraged to apply for clinical trials although this time there was definitely more help coming from the ministers.
The ministers are happy to quote for the media which is a real step forward.
Ministers attending: -
Dr Ian Gibson MP
Sir Patrick Cormack MP
Dr Desmond Turner MP
Austin Mitchell MP
Stephen O'Brien MP - sent his researcher Sam Barker because of other commitments.
Dr Lynne Jones - sent a researcher from her office because of other commitments.
Andy Fisher -National Audit Office.
The old EDM cannot be resurrected and so a new EDM has been initiated by Austin Mitchell and is now tabled and up on the web No 1739 (see below). He has approached other ministers to sponsor the EDM so that it gains more attention
I urge all of you to approach your MP's again to ask for their signature on this critical EDM. This is of great import to the future of the diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism.
Also ask friends and family from other districts to approach their MP's. We need 300 signatures for it to be heard in the House.
EDMs only ever last from session to session and the last EDM ended at the end of the Parliamentary Session last year (it was not abandoned). Therefore this EDM only lasts until November 2007 so we need to be diligent in gaining signatures.
I am in communication with BBC TV West Midlands - Health Correspondent at this present time.
Best Wishes to all
Diana
Lyn: I would like to thank Diana, on behalf of all thyroid disease sufferers, for all her hard work in arranging this meeting and for getting a new EDM tabled. I believe the wording of this EDM truly shows the problems that we have.
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EDM 1739
DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF HYPOTHYROIDISM
20.06.2007
Mitchell, Austin
That this House notes that misunderstandings surrounding the diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism are causing confusion within the medical profession; therefore urges the Department of Health to introduce acceptable guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism, which will remove all unacceptable terminology regarding blood test results for thyroid function, such as normal or in the reference range, ensuring that the upper and lower ends of the reference range are not to be used as `cut off points', as was suggested in the 1990s by the developers of the reference range; further notes that thyroid function test results are used as a sole indicator for the diagnosis and management of the condition, whereas observation of signs, patients' symptoms and history, and clinical appraisal should all be part of the criteria of diagnosis; regrets the fact that technological advances in the field of thyroid chemistry have narrowed the GP's diagnosing ability with the consequence that thousands of hypothyroid sufferers are undetected or misdiagnosed as suffering from conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, etc., so that the true number of hypothyroid sufferers is not known; and further urges the Department and the medical profession to correct the situation so as to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment of all consequences of hypothyroidism.
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