The UK Reiki Federation

Parliamentary Group for Integrated and Complementary Healthcare (PGICH)

Report of meeting held 13th December 2005
TOPIC: The Smallwood Report

The meeting was attended by 3 representatives from the UK Reiki Federation.

The Smallwood Report looked at gaps in healthcare provision, and viewed a number of CAM therapies where these had been used. In particular they looked at group 1 therapies from the White Paper, ie acupuncture, osteopathy, chiropractics, Echinacea herbal remedies and homeopathy. They hoped to establish some degree of consensus and agreement about what CAM therapies were effective, so they could go to the DOH with the findings.

They had three main approaches:

1. a literature scan,
2. talk to experts in the field
3. look at a series of case studies.

 

Findings

Findings – literature scan of articles containing evidence of effectiveness and cost from different journals including BMJ, Lancet and medical updates.

Acupuncture – Evidence indicated that there was increased benefits and reduced costs for those with a number of conditions but in particular muscular skeletal conditions.

Osteopathy/chiropractic – most studies were to do with back pain and seemed to provide short-term relief for acute and chronic back pain sufferers.

Herbal medicines – evidence pointed to moderate benefit ie muscular skeletal problems.

Homeopathy – inconclusive evidence as studies seemed to contradict each other.

Findings – case studies.

1. Newcastle PCT. Osteopathy, chiropractic and acupuncture offered on NHS over period of time. There was a 40% level of improvement reported, savings to GPS and 40% savings in cost of drugs. Conditions referred included chronic conditions of asthma, migraine, insomnia, muscular skeletal and psychosocial problems.
2. Glastonbury Health Centre. Referral by GPs for range of conditions. Used osteopathy, acupuncture, homeopathy and herbal medicine. Marked improvements in muscular and psycho social problems. There were Cost savings - GP visits dropped by 1/3, prescriptions 15%. There were secondary healthcare savings ie 64% drop in referrals to physios, 27% drop in other referrals. Cost of complementary therapies was same as the savings.
3. Get Well UK, Harringay. Deprived area, funded by charities and reference made to the PCT. Conditions identified asthma, shoulder pain, back pain etc. Medical records of 3⁄4 patients reported improvement in symptoms.

Findings - interviews.

They interviewed 22 local GPs and they saw main virtue as linking psychological and physical treatment in single approach, the relief and management of pain and stress.

Majority of cases specified conditions improved as well as patients’ health and general well being. CAM therapies appeared to have been beneficial for psychological problems associated with anxiety, stress and depression and in addition specific physical conditions improved including pain and muscular skeletal. This tied up with the literature findings. There were specific types of savings, such as prescriptions for drugs. It cannot be concluded that the NHS would save money on drugs.

Looked at service of GP groups with primary and healthcare professionals and they were asked whether they could see gaps in healthcare. They reported that CAM therapies could be used to deal with a range of complaints including muscular skeletal, arthritic, painful complaints in general and headaches.

 

 

Conclusions

1. Suggestion that CAM therapies have potential to make important contribution to healthcare
2. The number of treatments offer significant savings
3. There is a strong social case for extending the provision of these therapies, significant social and … elements in deprived communities where they have least money to pay for them
4. Number of recommendations that health ministers should invite NICE to carry out a serious assessment of the therapies identified and the potential role in the NHS in relation to the effectiveness of the gaps.

 

 

Secondary recommendations

1. There should be more research into the cost effectiveness of CAM treatments. If they can make effect. then need more contribution of money
2. If GP budget areas are to prescribe there are a number of barriers needed to be removed – information about safety in these areas. Legal position of doctors needs to be secured ie if they are referring people they need to know they are not subject to legal action. All practices need to be properly regulated. Needs to be much more education to doctors about where the strengths of complementary medicine are. Crucial that NICE look on identified areas and provide guidelines.

 

 

Reactions to the report

1. Great deal of support. GMC president supported proposal that NICE carry out research.
2. Report reviewed by BMJ and they supported view that psycho social and chronic conditions were ones where therapies could make best contribution. Supported argument that when NICE is considering conventional remedies, they should consider the relevant alternative therapies at the same time.
3. Kings Fund supported recommendations
4. Peter Haine said it should be taken seriously
5. NICE issued a press release saying if ministers would make a referral they would be happy to investigate the therapies.

UKRF
Without prejudice

 

See also:

Activities: Voluntary Self-Regulation: About PGICH

 

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