"Vitamin B12 injections"

My mother is in self-isolation (she is 84). She is due her B12 injection which she has been having for over 3 years. She has been repeatedly told that this needs to be given every 12 weeks to prevent the symptoms of the B12 deficiency harming her as she has a complicated blood picture.

She called the GP surgery about this last week about this to be told she could just wait until August to have this. Mum was really worried about this as the last time she "forgot" to have her B12 on time she felt awful and confused and had tingling in her hands and feet within a few weeks of missing it.

I then called the GP (not Mum's usual GP) to try and explain what had happened when Mum missed her B12 before to be told the same thing. I was  basically told this was rubbish and that "current evidence" showed people could be left for many months without treatment. I felt really hurt and annoyed by this as the doctor was more interested in their own evidence being absolutely true and correct than our evidence around the health and well being of Mum.

We, as a family, understand that in our current situation we want as few people seeing Mum as possible. This is why we suggested to the doctor that a registered nurse in the family could administer the medication which is sitting in Mum's house. All we needed was the equipment to do this but no - the "current evidence" dictates she will be alright until August!!

What has happened to compassionate, person-centred care? This autocrat and biomedical decision based on "current evidence" surely cannot account for every person with a B12 deficiency?  Should treatment decisions not be made based on a range of evidence, including that of the patient and those who know them best. This would be more in keeping with an approach that provides each individual person with safe and effective care that is in their best interests.

We are all really worried now as we don't want Mum to become unwell and need people coming to the house as she has a range of other comorbid conditions that make her at risk from COVID-19.