Strapped for cash
A GROUP of Britain’s leading doctors has urged
_______A report by Adisa Nicholson.________
When someone goes to their GP to get a diagnosis,
or with their doctor, it up to the GP or that doctor
whether they wish to refer someone to have a
complementary therapy.
Most of the time, this referral doesn’t happen as the
NHS staff dismiss the treatments as pointless,
which should only be
suggested as a last
resort, such as having
acupuncture for a
terminal illnesses or
physio for having a
damaged foot.
Also, there is an issue
over whether the NHS
should spend
taxpayer’s money on these treatments as there is
lack of scientific evidence and illnesses they can
treat.
Doubtable treatments
Holistic medicine has been around for much longer
than orthodox medicine (as in conventional
medicine). Unlike conventional medicine, holistic
medicine does not have scientific evidence
supporting it.
Holistic medicine is now also known as
complementary therapy as it can be taken alongside
conventional medicine, which is now the primary
most common widespread medicine nowadays in
the UK.
A complementary therapy would mean to support a
person’s existing conventional treatments (surgery
or drugs), and enhance their health by being a
second outlet of good health.
The fact that holistic medicine is now called
complementary therapy nowadays raises the
question over whether these therapies work,
provide good health and whether there is a place
for them in today’s society now we have our
conventional medicine.
every NHS trust to stop paying for alternative
medicine and to use the money for conventional
treatments.
Their appeal is a direct challenge to the Prince of
Wales’s outspoken campaign to widen access to
complementary therapies.
Public funding of “unproven or disproved
treatments” such as homoeopathy and reflexology,
which are promoted by the Prince, is unacceptable
while huge NHS deficits are forcing trusts to sack
nurses and limit access to life-saving drugs, the
doctors say.
Benefits of holistic medicine
However, businesses are making a profit out of
offering holistic medicine, not provided by local
NHS trusts, or in fact very little.
Acupuncture is an effective at pain relief, helping
people get off drugs, giving up smoking.
Aromatherapy is effective at getting people in a
calm state of mind. Chiropracting is also good at
stress relief and
having a placebo
effect. Juice
therapy is
effective at only
giving people
vitamins and
nutrients.
Is it worth it?
According to the people who take these medicines,
complementary therapies are worth it. So if they
want to go and pay for these repeated treatments
every 1 or 2 weeks, then why not?
If these treatments make them feel better, and
people feel happy about going there for their health,
when it must be a good thing.
Chapter 4
References
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article72
4049.ece