Homoeopathic Hospital attack

[Guest guest]

Here is a statement by UK Homoeopath and teacher, Carol Boyce. about what is

happening to the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital

 

 

The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital (RLHH) - the visible presence of

homeopathy within the National Heath Service (NHS) - an institute putting

homeopathy in the public mind for the last 150 years - the place where

homeopathy was seen to perform so well in the cholera epidemic of 1840's - is

being dealt a DEATH BLOW.

The moves are subtle and insidious, but nonetheless relentless and they won't

stop until the hospital is closed. In these insane times, I have to protect my

source but I have it on absolute authority that without a highly visible, vocal

and active campaign, the hospital will be closed within the year, with other

homeopathic institutions to follow.

The recent (smear) media campaign led by Prof. Ernst, Exeter University, Chair

of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and cost cutting in an NHS strapped

for cash, are cited as the main reasons. Yet the RLHH is one of the very few

areas of

the NHS that actually makes money over it's budget!

Without a doubt politics are at work.

A little history of the Stealth involved.......The In Patient beds at the RLHH

were the first to go. Patients then received day care at the hospital and were

put up in a local hotel as a means of saving money. Now this has been stopped

and treatment restricted to Outpatients only.

In typical media outrage - led again by Prof Ernst - it was claimed that the

43 million pound revamp of the RLHH building was NHS money that should never

have been used for a therapy that doesn't work. (As per Prof Ernst's Lancet

article in 2005.)

The fact of the matter is that the money for the revamp was donated by

benefactors to be used for the HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL ALONE. It was not money

that could have been allocated elsewhere in the NHS. BUT of course (and call me

cynical) if you allow the hospital to be revamped and THEN push out the

homeopaths, you can use a state of the art building for all kinds of other NHS

departments.

 

The Camden PCT (Primary Care Trust - the local control unit of the NHS) dictated

that the homeopathic allergy clinic must now be held over at the main University

College Hospital site. It's perfect - now the brand new rooms are not being used

by the homeopaths and in order to be economically effective must be used by some

other department - like the neighbouring neurology department's private

practice! (I kid you not - what was initially a once a month event is now

several times a week - the neurologists have already got their feet under the

consulting desk....)

A number of PCTs have already cut funding and others intend to, so that their

patients will not be able to obtain homeopathy on the NHS. Hammersmith and

Fulham are not allowing new referrals to the RLHH, six PCTs including Islington

have already, or plan to, cut their contracts from April this year, other PCTs

plan to follow suit and direct GP's NOT to refer patients to the RLHH. Then

Camden PCT can accuse the RLHH of a reducing patient base. Perfect. If this

wasn't a literal account of events, it might be amusing in it's bizarre

simplicity. And all this at a time when the Government is committed to patient

choice in a patient led NHS.

The PCTs even want to change the RLHH's name, and remove the word Homeopathic

from the title, despite the building being a local landmark for more than 150

years!

The " Powers that be' at the RLHH have mounted (imho) a token gesture of a

campaign - a letter is given to each patient and they are asked to write to

their MP. Best case scenario is political naivety. There has been no attempt to

utilize the internet, no attempt to contact the royal family, which in itself is

mystifying since the Queen is the RLHH's Royal Patron. No attempt to contact the

wider homeopathic community. I have heard a serious 'rumour' that staff have

been told to keep a low profile.

No matter what your party politics, it seems to me that this is in line with

the modus operanda of the day - quiet insidious shenanigans until - oops it's a

faite accomplish and too late to do anything. Whatever you might think about

the quality of homeopathy being practiced at the RLHH, they are doing important

work especially in the areas of allergies, autism and ADD even given their

limitation of a 20 minute consultation. They are devoted homeopaths doing their

best in a less than ideal situation.

 

They provide a credible face of homeopathy for the general public and with

40,000 patient appointments every year make homeopathy available on the NHS for

a significant number of patients who could not afford to have it otherwise.

In 2005 " 67% of individual GPS and 85% of practices in the host PCT (Camden)

referred patients; an increase of 29%.... " (Interesting timing of this move to

close the hospital .....)

The RLHH provides a: " ....holistic, patient centred, low risk, low cost, low

tech approach...It offers effective and cost-effective treatments; averts

multiple referrals and investigations, and treatments with which many patients

fail to comply or find ineffective. "

We live in a time when many are afraid to speak their truth for fear of

ridicule from colleagues, friends and family; fear of loss of position or status

or research funding; fear in many form and guises...... we live in a time when

imho building bridges is more important than standing on ceremony. I know first

hand that the RLHH people have respect for professional homeopaths, the work we

do, the standard of our education.

 

I presented at a homeopathic educators conference in 2004 in Malvern - 110

homeopaths there - some of you were also there - professional homeopaths,

medical homeopaths, homeopathic vets, homeopathic pharmacists - the first time

we were all sharing ideas and learning from each other on a level playing field

- it was amazing. If we are to keep homeopathy on the table of health care

options, we have to work together.

If you share my view, please take action now, this concerted effort to remove

homeopathy from the NHS is already in progress. It might be that Prof Ernst

will put in motion another campaign to remove the remaining homeopathic

community still practicing this 'ineffective' form of medicine.

We all know the issues, it's not about saving the NHS money, it's about

politics and multi-national drug companies and the commercialization of medicine

etc. etc. and it's my contention that those of us working in the same arena need

to support each other. United we stand, divided we....well you know the rest!

So what can we do to preserve this institution?

Tell everyone you know about what is happening and ask them to also take

action - your patients, your students, family, friends, anyone interested in

free access to health care choices.

Write to the Chief Executive of your PCT, especially if you live in Islington.

(Dr. Rachel Tyndall for Islington)

Write to your MP and better yet ask them to ask a Parliamentary question. MP's

at: www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm

Ask your MP to: Choose your two favourite questions from the list.

Ask the Secretary of State to estimate the amount of money saved to the NHS in

2005-2006 as a result of patients being referred to NHS homeopathic facilities.

Ask the Secretary of State to confirm that patients who receive NHS

complementary medicine have repeatedly testified as to the effectiveness of

their treatment.

Ask the Secretary of State to confirm the assurances given that as part of the

Delivering the NHS Improvement Plan that patients will be given greater choice

and that such choice will be respected by PCTs when patients and their GPs

choose complimentary medicine within the NHS.

Ask the Secretary of State to confirm that since the NHS is now 'patient led'

that any patient wishing to choose NHS homeopathic treatment will be able to

access it from on of the four NHS hospitals.

Ask the Secretary of State to write to PCTs to remind them that access to

homeopathy in the NHS should continue to be an option for all patients who

choose this form of NHS care and treatment.

Ask the Secretary of State to confirm that the Government's commitment to

patient choice will enable patients to choose homeopathy from a local NHS

homeopathic clinic or NHS homeopathic hospital.

Ask the Secretary of State to confirm the Government's continuing commitment

to providing homeopathy through NHS Homeopathic Hospitals.

Get out your best fountain pen and drop a line to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth

and ask her to intervene to preserve this 150 year old institution of which she

is the Royal Patron.

Anything else you can think - please don't hesitate to send me emails with

your ideas and I will pass them on. this is a personal campaign, not associated

with anyone at the RLHH and driven purely by my inability to stand by and watch

this institution die.

Thanks for your time. I hope you spread the word and make your feelings

known.

 

Onward!

 

Carol Boyce MCH, CCH, RSHom (NA)

Concerned Homeopath and Teacher

carolboyce

 

 

Jonathan Chamberlain

www.fightingcancer.com