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FOI Request 2036 - Complimentary Medicine |
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Written by FOI Lead
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| Case Number |
2036 |
| Request Date |
09/02/2010 |
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Details of the Request
The amount spent by the trust on alternative/integrated/complimentary medicine such as homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicines, nutritionists, chiropractors, reflexologists etc.
Where possible, a list of the suppliers of such services to the trust along with a brief description of what they supplied. |
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| Completion Date |
19/03/2010 |
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Details of the Response
Thank you for your request to Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust regarding alternative/integrated/complimentary medicine such as homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicines, nutritionists, chiropractors, reflexologists etc.
The Trust’s Head of Therapies has responded as follows:
Nutritionist
The Trust employs Dieticians and this is a protected term that can only be used by someone with the appropriate qualification and registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC). The HPC only recognises Registered Dieticians to work in the Health Service. Referral to the Dietetics service is by GP, Hospital Consultant or Health Care Professional. Some nutritionists are very well qualified but it is possible to complete a short correspondence course and call yourself a Nutritionist.
Acupuncture
Whilst there are currently a number of physiotherapists across both sites who practice the use of acupuncture, this is done within the remit and the scope of practice of physiotherapy under the fourth pillar of practice (CSP document PD001). Acupuncture is only used by physiotherapists in the trust as an adjunct to their normal therapy when it is deemed indicated and generally for the treatment of musculoskeleletal pain.
People need to be referred to physio by Consultant or GP and as already stated will be a part of treatment as assessed and deemed clinically appropriate by the physio ie not as a referral for acupuncture
All users must also be registered with the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiptherapists and therefore have completed a minimal standard of training and CPD to maintain competence.
Therefore we do not consider it to be complementary in its own right and it is difficult to assess its total utilisation and amounts spent (as it is largely infrequent and also rarely used in isolation).
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Any attachments sent with the request will available below.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 May 2011 09:55 )
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FOI Responses 
