An Unusual Spokeman For Holistic Health Care

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An Unusual Spokeman For Holistic Health Care

The Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain, Takes a Personal Approach To

Holistic Health Care

http://argument.independent.co.uk/commentators/story.jsp?story=573548

 

Peter Hain: Adopt a more holistic approach to health care

One in five Britons, myself included, now uses complementary health care

 

19 October 2004

 

When our first baby, Sam, was born with eczema, various creams were

prescribed. But they didn't work. Nor, when he developed asthma as well,

did the prescribed steroid spray. It was only when - in desperation - we

turned to homeopathy and radical changes in diet that both ailments went away.

 

All 60 million people in Britain will at some time rely on conventional

medicine. But 20 million of us now rely on complementary medicine, whether

vitamin or mineral pills, dietary therapy, homeopathy or osteopathy. The

question is can we bring them together under the National Health Service?

 

In years gone by the benefits of complementary medicine were derided, its

proponents regarded as weirdoes, swimming against a tide of conventional

medical opinion. But today there is an increasing recognition that both

sectors can co-exist, with the patient the winner. I am pleased that the

Welsh Assembly Government is looking into opportunities to support

complementary therapies within the NHS in Wales. Officials have been

liaising with the Department of Health and the Prince's Foundation about

these issues and at this stage it has agreed to promote a guide for

patients on complementary health care developed by the foundation across

Wales. Of course, conventional health care provides the spine of the NHS.

But complementary treatment is increasingly adding valuable benefits and

choices for people. One in five Britons, myself included, now uses

complementary health care; nearly half the GP practices in England provide

some kind of access to complementary health care; and there are now nearly

50,000 complementary medicine practitioners.

 

There are two main issues to be faced. First a much more comprehensive,

holistic approach to health care, looking not just at symptoms but at

causes, not just at curing ailments but at changing lifestyles. Second, it

is vital that we as individuals take much more responsibility for our own

health.

 

For instance far too many children are being brought up on a poor diet and

overuse of antibiotics. Their diet has far too many additives and too much

added sugar and salt. Overuse of antibiotic prescriptions is a concern for

all healthcare professionals and may affect our natural immune systems in

the long term. As a recent study showed, today's generation of youngsters

is likely to die younger, reversing a centuries-old trend of longer lifespan.

 

An integrated approach to health is not simply an " add on " to conventional

treatment and services. As a diagnostic approach, it enables a fuller

understanding of priorities for treatment, where a more conventional

approach based on the literal interpretation of symptoms may lead to more

costly and specialised treatment than is necessary. And in treatment terms,

it offers a wide range of alternatives, for example osteopathy and

chiropractic, instead of just physiotherapy for backs, or yoga and massage

approaches instead of tranquillisers for stress.

 

The integrated approach is patient-centred, may be more effective and could

save precious health service resources. It is estimated that there are 17.5

million people in this country suffering from chronic rather than acute

conditions. They might typically be suffering from back and or neck pain,

bowel problems, indigestion, stress, anxiety, depression and migraine. And

more people are seeking out alternative treatments to such problems.

 

Research by the University of Sheffield revealed that in 1998, some 19

million visits were made to complementary practitioners in the UK, compared

to 14 million visits by patients to A & E departments across the country.

Osteopathy and chiropractic are now regulated on the same basis as doctors

and nurses. The Government is also proposing similar arrangements for

acupuncturists and herbal practitioners. The National Institute for

Clinical Excellence on Multiple Sclerosis said last year that complementary

therapies such as Tai Chi, reflexology, magnetic therapy and massage may

have potential benefit for people with MS; there is good evidence that St

John's Wort is helpful for those suffering with mild depression; and in

March, the British Medical Journal carried a report which recommended an

expansion of NHS acupuncture services for primary care patients with

chronic headache, particularly migraine.

 

Let's be clear about the boundaries. A broken leg requires hospitalisation,

full stop. A diseased appendix needs to be removed, full stop. But recovery

from appendicitis is likely to be aided by complementary care and a strong

immune system. So we need more funding and training to encourage doctors to

make use of competent, regulated complementary practitioners for their

patients under the NHS. For example I know of GPs who regularly recommend

patients to dietary therapists - with spectacular results.

 

There shouldn't be an " either, or " for conventional and complementary

medicine. It is a question of being open-minded about each others'

abilities and perspectives. Ultimately this will be driven by the patients.

We all want the best of all worlds, combining the benefits of both

complementary and conventional NHS approaches to health.

 

The writer is the Secretary of State for Wales