Homoeopathy in the NHS

If you've read my last post, The Story So Far, you will realise that the future of NHS provision of homoeopathy hangs in the balance. This letter from Dr Peter Fisher, the Clinical Director of The Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital was forwarded to me today. If you read this post please lend your support by encouraging your MP to call for an Early Day Motion.

Parliamentary Early Day Motion on Homeopathy in the NHS28/05/2007
The battle is reaching a critical phase with important PCTs about to take decisions and the renewed attack this week by Born, Baum Ernst and co.

Our Early day Motion is doing quite well: 117 signatures so far. See http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33006&SESSION=885
it tells you who has signed and gives the full text of the EDM.

To get debate in the Commons we need 200 signatures.

Please check if your MP has signed at the website above. If s/he has not, please ask her/him to do so. The easiest way to do this is by email www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm It tells you who your MP is if you don't know!

Suggested email text below

Subject: Please sign EDM 1240 in support of NHS Homoeopathic Hospitals

Dear xxx,

This is to ask you to sign Early Day Motion 1240 'NHS Homoeopathic Hospitals'. As you may know there are four NHS homoeopathic hospitals/specialist clinics in England (The Royal London, Bristol and Tunbridge Wells Homoeopathic Hospitals and the Liverpool Clinic). Despite their names, these units provide a range of complementary and alternative treatments, not just homeopathy, fully integrated into the NHS. They make an important contribution to the health of the nation and to patient choice, offering clinically-effective and cost-effective solutions to common health problems faced by NHS patients, including many chronic, difficult to treat conditions.

The homoeopathic hospitals are unique resources, highly valued by their patients, with a proud record of developing and providing safe, effective non-drug based treatments for common conditions. They have great potential to make further contributions, and to reduce the NHS's dependency on drug treatments.

The combined budget of these homoeopathic units is about £5m/year, a tiny proportion of the NHS budget. Yet in the current financial turbulence affecting the NHS their future is threatened by short-term, local, financially-driven decisions by PCTs.

I hope you will sign the EDM calling on the government to actively support these valuable national assets.

Yours Sincerely,
xxx

Thanks and best wishes
Peter
Dr Peter Fisher Clinical Director Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital Great Ormond Street London WC1N 3HR UK Tel (+44) (0) 20 7391 8890 (UCLH internal 18890) Fax 020 7391 8829 http://www.uclh.nhs.uk/rlhh