Patients 'healthier' after complementary medicine

healthcarerepublic.com, 17 February 2009, 12:52am

Integrating complementary and conventional medicine significantly improved the health of 65% of patients, according to a Northern Ireland study.

Photograph: istockphoto

The study found that half the GPs involved said they had been able to reduce prescribed medication and the same number that their patients needed less frequent referral to hospital.

Two-fifths of patients reported an improvement in symptoms, 81% said their general health had improved and 55% that they had been able to reduce their use of painkillers.

The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health was closely involved in setting up the trial, which was implemented by Get Well UK, a not-for-profit supplier of complementary healthcare.

It involved NHS GPs offering selected complementary therapies to two groups of patients: those with musculo-skeletal conditions and people with mild to moderate mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and stress.

The therapies included acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy, reflexology and aromatherapy, all administered by local practitioners. More than 700 patients took part.

Dr Michael Dixon, the foundation’s medical director, said: ‘Patients have clearly benefited – and so has the health service.

Reduced prescribing and less need for hospital treatment has saved NHS money.

‘All the GPs involved wanted to continue practising integrated healthcare with the option to refer their patients for complementary therapies.’

neil.durham@haymarket.com

Do you think there should be more complementary medicine?

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Tags: PRACTICE STAFF, NURSE, GP, PHARMACIST

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All Comments

Surinder Ghatoray - 17 February 2009

I personally believe there can be an equal place for complementary medicine. This is medicine that seems to have been forgotten as technological advances allow more specific medication to be produced. It is important not to be sceptical about complementary approaches to health....some of which have been practiced very successfully for more years than we have been healthcare professionals!

steven wheeler - 18 February 2009

But is it the therapy or the fact that people with mild to moderate mental health issues are getting to interact with other people, which in turn has a direct impact upon their symptoms?

Of course, you can argue "who cares so long as it works"

rosielee - 18 February 2009

I personally have no need of any therapy at present, but if I do, I believe I would much rather have the option of using complimentary therapy, than just conventional therapy only. I understand that those professionals who are able to command huge sums of money for their own brand of treatment, will continue to be against any other therapies which will impact on their budgets!

If patient choice was really at the centre of the policies being currently promoted by the NHS, and the professionals within it, then certainly complimentary therapy which has a longer history than conventional treatments which have only been around for less than the time I have been around!

Other societies seem to benefit from it, and certainly those of you who are always on the lookout for new ways of helping people cope with their illnesses, surely this is an option for your patient.