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Oxford Holistic Academy
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An exciting article from the FHT website on ‘Get well NI’
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Pilot Project in Northern Ireland
“A ground-breaking pilot scheme in Northern Ireland is taking seriously the possibility that complementary therapies can improve health and save money”.
This is the exciting news coming from the Journal of Holistic Healthcare 1 that reports on a project integrating complementary and alternative therapies into the NHS in N. Ireland. Working with Get Well UK, the NI government set up a year long pilot scheme that allowed GPs to refer patients to complementary therapists, with their treatment being paid for by the NHS. The practitioners for aromatherapy, massage and reflexology were recruited through the Federation of Holistic Therapists. The government in Northern Ireland was the first in the UK to commission a complementary therapy pilot project, measuring the impact on patients and the NHS. Working with Get Well UK they ran the yearlong project in 2007, which made it possible for GPs to refer their patients to quality assured complementary therapies. Practitioners were recruited through a two-stage application process to meet Get Well UK s criteria for practitioners who work with the NHS. They focused on the areas of musculoskeletal conditions and mental health conditions, as these are two areas where the NHS needs to try some new ideas. The practitioners were fantastic and were well supported with monthly supervision and administrative backup as they boldly went where no practitioner had been before. Get Well Northern Ireland, a new documentary on BBC One Northern Ireland shown on 5th May put the spotlight on a group of patients who have attempted to leave the world of prescriptions behind, in favour of complementary therapies. The patients featured in the programme had a wide range of conditions which typically GPs would see on a daily basis and which fell into two categories; mental and emotional, as well muscular skeletal pain, such as back pain and arthritis.
Boo Armstrong, Get Well UK founder, told FHT “We have seen the results and they are very good. The report and recommendations are being finalised and will be considered by the Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey MLA. He will then announce his decision and the report will enter the public domain”.
FHT is working with Get Well UK to develop a media response for the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Pilot Project in Northern Ireland to coincide with the NI government report and recommendations.
Your involvement is going to be key in making the changes in the NHS that we all want to see. We will keep you up to date with what is happening, so that you can share the news with your patients and be informed when they come for treatment clutching the latest newspaper article. In the meantime we are looking for GPs who are in favour of integrating complementary therapies into their practice. If you know a GP who has worked with CAM and is willing to speak to the media please contact mprince@fht.org.uk
An article entitled “Northern Ireland – pathways to health” was published in the February issue of the Journal of Holistic Healthcare, detailing the background, clinical governance and methodology for the pilot scheme.
“Northern Ireland – pathways to health”
Case studies from the pilot scheme
To view exerts from the BBC One NI documentary, Get Well Northern Ireland, go to You Tube via the following links. Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX-m1eQuQ3I Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcgslpHXj3Q Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqRuWrLqQyc
1 © Journal of holistic healthcare _ Volume 5 Issue 1 February 2008 |
