To think it odd my doctor won't give me a blood test

[ImStillMe]

I did an e-comsult asking for a blood test for two things. Firstly I have been taking OTC vitamin D as I read this may be beneficial if you catch Covid (although I have also read this is debunked). I wanted my vitamin D level checked so I know whether or not to continue with this.

And secondly my hair has become very dry so I wondered if I am deficient in anything, or if it ok to try OTC biotin or zinc.

The surgery replied to say it's up to me if I want to continue with vitamin D supplements or not as they are OTC, and that I should talk to a pharmacist about my dry hair.

So no blood tests for me.

I imagine it's to do with funding/NHS resources. If you aren't coming to them with illnesses or big concerns they probably can't help.

pay for a private test. There isn’t anything actually wrong with you to use NHS funds to test you. That’s the sort of thing you pay for yourself unless you’re ill and there’s a reason to test you.

I don't think dry hair and vitamin d levels are important enough to waste nhs time, there are far more important things blood tests are needed for.

Really?

Agree with pp, fair enough to want to know but the NHS can't pay for blood tests that aren't clinically indicated. Get it done privately if you care enough about it.

You’re not unwell. The NHS isn’t there to determine the cause of your dry hair.

You’re having a laugh.

Are you U.K. based?
NHS won’t allow (no matter how hard you demand/insist/push) for blood tests you think that you need.
It can be expensive, take up a spot for bloods that someone needs and means follow up by busy GP or practice nurse.
It’s just very finite resources that they won’t do under your circumstances.

You could of course pay for private blood testing.

So you want a blood test to check the impact of self medicated vit D and to see why your hair is frizzy and dry?

And your clinical symptoms or symptoms that are making you feel unwell are?

You don't need the test in relation to potential disease. Therefore you paybfor them personally rather than via a free at the point of delivery NHS which is designed to deal with disease. Stuff that makes you feel ill; and even if you are ill, you might not get clinical support.

Yes sounds like they are following current guidance about Vitamin D testing

I'm pleased that my tax isn't going towards blood tests for "non" ailments.

You have got to be joking with this thread?

You must be joking? We're on the brink of the collapse of the nhs and you want blood tests for dry hair and to check levels of vitamin D with no clinical symptoms?!

Dry hair is such a random reason for a blood test, I’m not surprised they didn’t a agree to it.
In the nhs a blood test needs to be medically necessary, not a random interest in your vitamin levels.

No one is this ridiculous, surely this can’t be real?

Seriously?

pay for it yourself. You aren’t unwell.

No one can be this entitled surely?

😂😂😅

Pahaha nice one OP! Dry hair! Perhaps you need to go straight to A&E

By deficient in anything..... did you mean you wanted to be tested for EVERYTHING just in case ??? You know most vitamin/mineral assays are either not available on the NHS or are specialist request only ? Vit D tests are only available if clinically indicated and most people in Northern hemispheres climates are recommended to take OTC supplements and absolutely don't need checking..

You are utterly unreasonable and ridiculous..

Don't be so ridiculous. The NHS are not going to pay for tests for these spurious reasons. You re not ill. Pay for the tests yourself.

As if it’s not bad enough we are forced to share oxygen with people who think like this but we’re expected to share valuable and critical resources!

Give your head a shake OP!

You ask some weird questions, OP.

Dry hair. 😂😂😂

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/others/

There you go, vitamin D, biotin and zinc information. In a nutshell, you can take supplements for these, but only vitamin d is actually recommended by the government, and don’t go mad and take loads of biotin and zinc because you don’t need to and it won’t do you any good.

@ImStillMe Do you realise the cost of blood tests the manpower involved time etc?
You are being absolutely unreasonable requesting a blood test for dry hair and to check Vit D levels. Follow the NHS guidelines for Vit D supplements over the winter and go to Boots and buy some hair conditioner.

It costs the NHS £8000 to do a blood panel, and you want them to do that for dry hair?!