With thanks to HospitalHealthCare.com 11.2.09:
Independent Evaluation Report into Departmental CAM Pilot (PDF 950KB) Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety report on CAM therapies May 2008.
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, chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy, 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.
Independent analysis of the findings showed:
* Patients receiving acupuncture treatment reported an average 33% improvement in their health and wellbeing
* Patients receiving chiropractic and osteopathy treatment reported an average 38% improvement in their health and wellbeing
* Patients receiving homeopathic treatment reported an average 54% improvement in their health and wellbeingFounder of Get Well UK, Boo Armstrong, says of the results:
“The results from this project speak for themselves. Complementary therapies improve health and save money. These findings are consistent with other service evaluation from across the UK. A personalised health service will need protocols to include complementary therapies.”
Melanie Prince, Marketing Manager from the Federation of Holistic Therapists, commented:
“We are thrilled but not surprised by the findings which confirm that complementary therapies do have a positive effect upon patient well-being.
“With around 20,000 members the FHT, through our members, offers many of the complementary therapies that have proven so successful in this report.
“We hope that this research will be used by GPs and health professionals throughout the UK to offer patients complementary therapy, as part of their NHS treatment.”
Independent Evaluation Report into Departmental CAM Pilot (PDF 950KB) Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety report on CAM therapies May 2008.
#1 by Sue Hladky on March 24, 2009 - 8:59 pm
As registered Homoeopath myself I am heartened by this report. Of course our patients know Homoeopathy works well in all sorts of health situations – All we ask is that you just ask the patients themselves and get an honest view.
Homoeopathy can help with short terms illnesses and it is great in the hayfever season too.There are good results with long term conditions as we take into account the whole person not just the diseased state.
You are unique and should be treated as such. Homoeopathy is suitable for everyone at all stages of life,including babies.