Minutus

The UK government response
http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page12828.asp
"Although the Department of Health provides strategic leadership to the NHS
and social care organisations in England, it is for local NHS organisations
to plan, develop and improve services for local people. These bodies are
best placed to respond to patients' concerns and needs, so it is their
responsibility to commission healthcare packages for NHS patients. The
clinical and cost-effectiveness, safety and availability of suitably
qualified practitioners, as well as evidence in support of specific
therapies, are all issues that have to be taken into account when deciding
what treatment to provide.
We understand that there are no plans by University College London Hospitals
NHS Trust to close the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital."

Rgds
Soroush
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16:16

Hi Soroush,

Sadly - From the government's point of view it is the same old, same old.....it is all up to individual Primary Care Trusts to make financial decisions - and as was already apparent they have been convinced by a vocal minority that homeopathy is placebo and therefore should not be funded and have largely already withdrawn funding /ended referrals/stopped paying for appointments for patients already attending .

Despite the 'assurance' re Univ College London Hospitals, I can tell you categorically that the 'homeopathic hospital' - such as is left of it after the recent carving up of its precious resources, is as I write in a VERY grave state indeed.......

As for the Early Day Motion for a debate in Parliament we needed at least 200 MPs to sign and the total stands at 197......

Very, very disappointing from my point of view and imho does not bode well for the future of homeopathy in the UK (despite Northern Ireland apparently happily integrating homeopathy into their health service and Scottish GPs still referring !!! )

I think it is a perfect example of how a very small group of people with access to the media can affect (in this case to the detriment of all) the democratic process. And this won't be popular - but how the inertia of large parts of the non-medical homeopathic community in getting behind this issue and seeing it as a way to build bridges - is a great example of divide and conquer......I am travelling to the UK tomorrow so will write more about what as a community we might still do.

Thanks to those of you who supported the Save the RLHH campaign, signed the petition, wrote to your MPs and etc.

Carol

Carol Boyce, MCH, CCH, RSHom (NA)
Director of Education
The Homeopathic Symposium
www.homeopathicsymposium.com
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