Alternative therapy put on trial

[FarSideOfTheMoon]

Unfortunately not the kind of trial most of us would like to see.....one that ends in a guilty verdict :p

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6329279.stm

An experiment in allowing NHS patients easier access to alternative and complementary therapies has been launched by NI Secretary Peter Hain.
The £200,000 year-long trial will run in two health practices in Londonderry and Belfast. The main focus will be on anxiety and musculoskeletal problems.

GPs in these areas will now be able to refer patients for therapies like acupuncture, homeopathy and massage.

Mr Hain said it would help those who could not afford treatments privately.

........

The pilot, announced last October by Health Minister Paul Goggins, will be run by Get Well UK, a not-for-profit organisation which promotes greater access to complementary and alternative medicine.

As an Ulster exile, this is very disappointing. But not surprising, as belief in superstition is probably as strong if not stronger in Northern Ireland as anywhere in the UK. And I can say that anecdotally as someone who has lived there, England and now Scotland.

The website for Get Well UK :

http://www.getwelluk.com/

Nice picture of Prince Charles on the front page....

Interestingly out of all the case studies on their site - they only refer to either accupuncture or osteopathy. I guess they couldn't find any case studdies for massage, aromatherapy, chirpractic or homeopathy which are the other therapies that they are actively publicising.

[Mojo]

Hain is a self-confessed (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1590879,00.html) "true convert" to sCAM. See also here (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=45805).

[Blue Wode]

GPs in these areas will now be able to refer patients for therapies like acupuncture, homeopathy and massage.

On the same day as the BBC report, this from the government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Sir David King, in the Independent:


There is no scientific evidence whatsoever supporting the use of homeopathy.

http://news.independent.co.uk:80/people/profiles/article2237709.ece

[Deetee]

Hain is a self-confessed (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1590879,00.html) "true convert" to sCAM. See also here (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=45805).

Did Prince Charles really say this? (my emphasis)
The Prince of Wales, who spoke later to the gathering of around 120 GPs who have agreed to affiliate themselves to the foundation, said he was delighted that more than half of all GPs are now offering some sort of complementary therapy.
He added: "I can't tell you how pleased and proud I am that so many eminent and sensible quacks are joining with my foundation and it is my fervent belief that as more and more GPs spread the word of integrated healthcare."

[FarSideOfTheMoon]

Hain is a self-confessed (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1590879,00.html) "true convert" to sCAM. See also here (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=45805).

I really try not to think about politics in this country too much. I get really angry that we are governed by such idiots. But that's not a discussion for this part of the forum.

[Blue Wode]

Peter Hain is still at it. This time he’s using ‘Backcare Awareness Week’ to help promote his belief in sCAM.


In February, while I was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, I launched a year-long pilot which would enable patients in two areas of Belfast and Derry to receive complementary and alternative therapies as part of their NHS treatment. The therapies available to them are osteopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage and homeopathy. I hope that this pilot will help people understand what complementary therapies can offer and encourage doctors to consider them as alternative treatments. They produce very positive outcomes where prescribing pills or drugs simply do not.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk:80/0100news/health/tm_headline=exercise-and-extra-care-8211-the-cure-for-a-pound-600m-back-pain&method=full&objectid=19911736&siteid=50082-name_page.html




Shouldn’t that last sentence read “They produce very unreliable outcomes”?

[rjh01]

But as well as keeping active there are other ways to help ease back pain. Nearly 40% of back pain sufferers consulted a GP for help but only 10% visited a practitioner of complementary medicine such as osteopathy or a chiropractor.
People vote with their feet. A GP has a better reputation than a practitioner of complementary medicine.

[Physiotherapist]

People vote with their feet. A GP has a better reputation than a practitioner of complementary medicine.


As a Physical Therapist and advanced bodywork practitioner, I receive lots of referrals from GP's for patients with back pain.

They go to their GP's, who will rule out more serious causes for back pain and mostly send them off with prescriptions for non-steroidal drugs and long term use of these types of drugs can cause their own problems.

In my many years of experience as a physical therapist, most GP's do not really know what to do for back pain and are mostly reluctant to use a hands on approach, hence why I get referrals.

In my practice, I have found that a lot of back pain is due to poor posture and lack of exercise that then creates tightness, spasm and an imbalance in the muscles of the back. This then has a knock on effect to the muscle balance in other areas of the body, so untreated back pain can cause neck and shoulder pain too.

I use a mixture of physical therapy and advanced techniques that includes treating Trigger Points. I also use postural re-education and I have lots of success with back pain.