Patients call for NHS Complementary Therapy
I welcome the findings of a new report on the benefits of complementary therapy for NHS patients. I am hoping that local GP's and health practitioners in Swindon will be recommending complementary therapies as part of their NHS treatment to appropriate patients after reading this report.
A year-long pilot scheme in Northern Ireland has found that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can offer significant health improvements to NHS patients.
After receiving CAM treatments on referral from their GP, 81% of patients reported an improvement in their physical health and 79% in their mental health. The majority of patients, 84%, directly linked improvements in their health and wellbeing to the CAM treatment they had received and 94% said they would recommend it to others with a similar condition.
The 713 patients, with a range of ages and demographic backgrounds and either musculoskeletal or mental health conditions, were referred to relevant CAM therapies via nine GP practices in Belfast and Londonderry. The therapies included acupuncture, chiropratic, osteopathy, homeopathy, massage, reflexology and aromatherapy administered by local practitioners. The scheme was implemented by social enterprise Get Well UK, which aims to improve access to complementary therapy on the public health service.
Patients assessed their own health and wellbeing pre and post therapy and GPs and CAM practitioners also rated patients responses to treatment and the overall effectiveness of the scheme.
As a member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists, I have been working hard to enhance and improve upon the skills and a range of therapies I offer my clients.
My clients have been very appreciative of the services that I provide and in many instances it has brought great relief to their lives and has meant they are able to enjoy life much more fully.
I hope that the new research will influence the decisions of the health care profession so that patients in future will receive my support without necessarily having to pay privately.
Diana Cabral
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