Attilio the BacC and the NHS

[Guest guest]

Dear Attilio

 

Firstly let me apologise if I offended you. I wrongly assumed that you had

chosen not to join the BAcC and hence my comments. In you recent posts you

have mentioned Regulation and didn't really seem to understand what was

actually going on. There are many acupuncturists within the BAcC who don't

know what's going on either, but the information is there and there is a

members forum on the web which encourages discussion about all aspects of

Regulation and other professional matters. The BAcC is working hard to

protect our Title and level of training and stop it being lowered by the

medics, physios, nurses, dentists etc, although they may not succeed. This

is why I believe all acupuncturists should be a member of the BAcC and I

hope you are able to join soon and contribute to the debate.

 

However, I still disagree that Doctors and nurses are going to take our

livelihood away. Just because a patient receives poor acu treatment from an

inadequately trained GP, does not mean that that patient will go away and

think acupuncture is rubbish, just as if they get a poor GP generally, they

don't think all medicine is rubbish. What actually happens is that many go

and find themselves a properly qualified acupuncturist. The truth is, there

are not enough properly trained acupuncturists in the UK to meet the demand

and if all the places in the NHS were advertised for " properly trained

acupuncturist " , I doubt that they would be filled.

Kind regards

Susie

 

 

 

Message: 16

Mon, 29 Nov 2004 22:45:45 -0000

" Attilio D'Alberto " <attiliodalberto

RE: Digest Number 770

 

Susie

 

Susie: I work in the UK and have no trouble getting patients who are

prepared to

pay for acupuncture.

 

Attilio: I never said I have trouble getting patients, that's not the issue.

If you look at the wider implications of doctors and nurses practicing

acupuncture in closed hospitals, then you may just notice that our field is

being eroded under our feet. I'm not talking from a personal issue like you

are, I'm looking at the wider, whole implications in the UK. Once doctors

and nurses have a practical foundation under their belts, they'll start to

conduct their own research into acupuncture's effects. I most probably won't

be effective as their acupuncture skill and education is only a drop in the

ocean and again acupuncture will be given a bad press.

 

Susie: Most GPs don't actually have the time to practice

acupuncture, so I don't think they are the threat you make them out to be.

 

Attilio: I'm not talking about most GPs. Of course most GPs don't practice

acupuncture. I'm talking about the ones that DO practice acupuncture. And

yes, they are a threat to TCM if they keep on devaluing our field by

providing a substandard quality of acupuncture to patients, which will give

acupuncture a bad name.

 

Susie: I note that you are not a member of the

British Acupuncture Council. The BAcC do a lot of PR work and also

represent us acupuncturists with the government to protect our title in the

new regulatory structure. If you aren't a member then the rest of us are

paying for all that work on your behalf.

 

Attilio: What an absolute cheek. I find your comments not only childish but

rude. It's of no concern to you what association I belong to. In actual

fact, I'm a little cheesed off having to undergo the BAC interview when I've

just graduated from the best TCM course in the UK, which for some strange

reason isn't accredited with the BAC, hence I haven't joined as yet. But I

will join the BAC in time, probably next year. I also do a lot of work

myself by running this group, furthering discussion, education, seminars,

etc and don't get paid a penny! Do I go around stating I'm working for

everyone else for free? No!

 

Susie: I do not want to work in a hospital - I have worked for 2 years as an

acupuncturist in a Hospice and that was enough for me. I would be surprised

if any reasonably good acupuncturist would want to work for the NHS, but I

suppose it is a training ground for a newly qualified practitioner.

 

Attilio: Again Susie, you misread my comments. I don't want to work in the

NHS to get practice, I've had plenty of that already. Its the PRINCIPLE and

overall state of affairs for TCM in the UK that I am concerned for, not for

myself. But yes, I would like to see a acupuncturist in every NHS hospital

in the UK, why not?

 

Kind regards

 

Attilio D'Alberto

Doctor of (Beijing, China)

BSc (Hons) TCM MATCM

07786198900

attiliodalberto

<http://www.attiliodalberto.com/> www.attiliodalberto.com