Share review of Borders General Hospital

Borders General Hospital 2015-05-20 Person 1 5 0

We visited a haematologist because my husbands symptoms of Pernicious Anaemia were returning earlier and earlier between B12 injections. Her attitude was 'So what?' She was rude, unhelpful, patronising, condescending but frighteningly, she was incorrect, inaccurate and downright dangerous as we have now discovered that the information she gave us was completely wrong. What's more, we are now finding that this lack of knowledge is almost universal in the UK. Loading doses are NOT done as they should be and blood tests are totally inaccurate, almost useless but still being relied upon, whereas governmental advice actually states that treatment should be given based on clinical symptoms rather than test results. She admitted the tests are 'crap', her words not mine, but then based her medical opinion totally on the results!! DOH! And the reason can only be down to some imagined cost. But here's the rub, patients are told that treatment is expensive, and toxic if too much is given. The truth is that B12 cost 60p an injection and a dose 5000, yes, five thousand times that of a loading dose is given to a cyanide poisoning sufferer. In most countries abroad, B12 is available in injectible form (the only way for PA sufferers) over the counter, but not here. Our own GP was galvanised into action, referring my husband for a second opinion to a private haematologist only after we had had the courage to face up to him and land a thick file of documents on his desk that he subsequently read. our hope is that this new consultant will actually know what he/she is talking about, but we are not holding our breath. My husband's neurological symptoms are now so advanced that he can remove an egg from boiling water with his bare fingers, and he constantly has to check his arms are still there by looking for them. If we get no sastisfaction we will be left with no choice but to self medicate, a perfectly legal route for us to follow, thank god. If anyone out there has PA, or is simply B12 deficient, please join the PA Society website and learn what you can do for YOURSELF, because the so called medical healthcare professionals at this and most other hospitals in the UK are sadly wanting.