People who try complementary therapies usually wish that they were available on the NHS. There is a strong argument for advocating therapies because they can nip health problems in the bud, preventing more serious conditions developing. This could save the NHS a lot of money.
A trial by Get Well UK in Northern Ireland involved 713 patients from a variety of backgrounds and all ages with musculo-skeletal and mental health problems. They were given a variety of therapies including acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy, reflexology and aromatherapy.
Following the treatments over a year 81 per cent of them claimed that their physical health had improved, 79 per cent reported improvement in mental health, 64 per cent took less time off work and 55 per cent reduced their use of painkillers.
Although their GPs were somewhat sceptical at the start of the project they were pleased with results, particularly as nearly a quarter of the participants (24 per cent) used health services less after the treatment. Some 65 per cent of GPs reported seeing less of their patients afterwards and half of them said that they were prescribing less medication for them. Half of the GPs even reported a reduction in workloads.
The project was developed after a fund was announced by Paul Goggins, MP, former Health Minister for Northern Ireland, to pilot the integration of complementary medicine into the NHS. A new approach was needed to cope with the overload of patients with musculoskeletal and mental health problems.
It takes so long to make changes in the NHS. There are more therapies available than most people realise – for instance, cancer patients are often given free treatments in centres allied to hospitals. But even where it is recognised that some therapies would be helpful it is still a slow process.
Not only does it require management will to change, but often doctors are very averse to anything that they find threatening to their profession. It is a pity that a percentage of them still view anything that is not orthodox as ‘mumbo jumbo’. As they all claim to be overworked, it is surprising that more don’t endorse complementary therapies as both prevention and cure.
Read more like this on Frances' website: www.healthysoul.co.uk
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
