PRESS RELEASE
Date: 13th February 2009
Patients call for NHS complementary therapy
Fiona Heath, a complementary therapist from Wellbeing Holistics in Droitwich, welcomes the findings of a new report on the benefits of complementary therapy for NHS patients. Fiona is hoping that local GP's and health practitioners in Worcestershire will be recommending complementary therapies as part of their NHS treatment to appropriate patients after reading this report.
A year-long pilot scheme in Northern Ireland has found that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can offer significant health improvements for NHS patients.
After receiving CAM treatments on referral from their GP, 81% of patients reported an improvement in their physical health and 79% in their mental health. The majority of patients, 84%, directly linked improvements in their health and wellbeing to the CAM treatment they had received and 94% said they would recommend it to others with a similar condition.
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 reflexology, acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy and massage 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.
Wellbeing Holistics offers a range of complementary therapies with Fiona being a specialist reflexologist. Commenting upon the new findings Fiona said, "as a member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists, I have been working hard for many years to enhance and improve upon the skills I offer my clients. My clients have been very appreciative of the services I provide and in many instances it has brought great relief to their lives and has meant they are able to enjoy life much more fully. I have numerous examples of how my work in Droitwich has benefited and improved their wellbeing. I hope that the new research will influence the decisions of the health care profession so that patients in future will receive my support without necessarily having to pay privately. We should be looking to offer an integrated health service which offers the best of both disciplines to achieve the best possible results for each individual patient."
FOR MORE INFORMATION contact Fiona Heath of Wellbeing Holistics on 01905 770569 or email fiona@wellbeingholistics.com.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The pilot project was funded by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Northern Ireland, and administered by Get Well UK. All evaluation was conducted independently by Social and Market Research.
Fiona Heath MICHT IIHHT PACT ATLM
You can find further information, including testimonials from patients, on my website wellbeingholistics.com and also on thebestofdroitwich website.
