Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk to patients of being denied access to liothyronine (T3) where they had previously achieved good health outcomes when using the medicine.

The Department has made no assessment. When publishing its guidance, NHS England advised clinical commissioning groups that individuals currently being prescribed liothyronine should be reviewed by a consultant National Health Service endocrinologist with consideration given to switching to levothyroxine, but only where clinically appropriate.

The responsibility for prescribing and any necessary follow-up rests with the doctor or prescriber who has clinical responsibility for that particular aspect of a patient's care. Decisions on which drugs are prescribed should be based on clinical assessments. Good communication between practitioners and patients is essential and prescribers should always involve patients in decisions about the treatment proposed, including informing them of any possible side effects from their prescribed medicines.