THERAPIES

Network Edited by Mary Toase

Forthcoming Meetings

Medical Marriage: the New Partnership between Orthodox and Complementary Medicine For practitioners interested in cooperation; the legal, economic and professional implications of group practice; effective com- munication within research. * 13-16 May 1994. Venue: Findhom Bay Holistic Health Centre, The Park, Find- horn Bay, Forres, Morayshire IV36 OTZ, Scotland (0309 690943)

Complementary Medicine in the NHS: Collaboration, Reflection and Research Working conference for GPs and complementary practitioners already collaborating or actively doing clinical work together. * Saturday 25 June 1994. Held under the auspices of the British Holistic Medical Asso- ciation, The Royal College of General Practitioners, and Guy’s Hospital Department of Postgraduate Centre Contact: Dr David Peters (071 935 6328), Dr Brian Fisher (081 699 2840)

Joint RCCMKOST Conference * Saturday 20 June 1994. Contact: Jonathan Monckton, Director, Research Council for Complementary Medicine, 60 Great Ormond Street, London WC1 3JF (071 833 8897) (See below for details of COST)

Current Research Studies

The osteopath and acupuncturist in a GP surgery Contact: Adrian Lister, Phoenix Surgery, Chesterton Lane, Cirencester, Glos.

Access to osteopathy for a fund-holding practice Funded by North West Thames RHA Contact: Dr Peter Davies or Dr David Peters, Marylebone Cen- tre Trust, 33 Queen Anne Street, London WIM 9FB (071 255 2770)

News of Integration and Collaboration

Wiltshire Health Care Commissioners and a group of interested GPs in the Devizes area are looking into ways of making complementary medicine more access- ible within general practice. Contact: Dr David Peters (071 935 6328), Dr Peter Reason (0225 826 826)

Guy’s and Lewisham NHS hst is looking into the feasibil- ity of making massage and acupuncture available to referring doctors. Contact: Janet Richardson, Community Research Project, Keats House, 24/26 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RN (071- 955 484714848)

South Cleveland Hospital’s Oncology Unit is to make an expanded range of therapies available to out-patients. Contact: Dr Peter Dunlop, Dept of Radiology, South Cleveland Hospital, Marton, Middlesborough, Cleveland TS4 3BN (0642 850850)

Oxford FHSA is investigating the possibility of providing resources for a limited range of complementary therapies to referring GPs. Contact: Penny Costley White (0865 741174)

Liverpool FHSA has set up a Complementary Medicine Cen- tre available for GP referral. Contact: John Welland, Community Development Works, 1st Floor, Cavern Walks, 8 Matthew Street, Liverpool L2 6RE (051 236 4747)

The Anatomy of Well-being was the theme of the sec- ond International Dead Sea Conference held last December in Tiberius. The conference laid particular emphasis on the management of cancer patients, providing an opportunity for experts from many disciplines to explain their basic philoso- phies and practical applications. The organising committee of Israeli scientists, doctors and complementary practitioners, together with an International Committee, plan further meet- ings to promote and develop health strategies and policies towards achieving a more harmonious world.

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1 IO Complementary Therapies in Medicine: Newsround section

Southampton has signed a contract with Dorset Health Com- mission for the treatment of a number of specified diseases, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, behavioural problems in children, migraine and irritable bowel syndrome. Contact: Dr George Lewith, CSCM, 51 Bedford Place, Southampton SO1 2DG (0703 334 752)

Comprehensive Information Service for Complementary Medicine (CISCOM) has been set up by the Research Coun- cil for Complementary Medicine (RCCM) for health profes- sionals and researchers. It comprises a database drawing on the resources of the British Library and Medline, as well as the RCCM’s own independent data with its access to over 24,000 references. Services within CISCOM include Litera- ture searches; Literature assessment; Assessment of research proposals; Implementation (a consultancy service to NHS and other organisations wishing to integrate complementary thera- pies). A charge is made for the service. Contact: Andrew Vickers, RCCM, 60 Great Ormond Street, London WClN 3JF (071 833 8897)

COST (Committee for Science and Technology) is a new ini- tiative encompassing member states of the Council of Europe, with a view to developing Pan-European research collabora- tion, and greater unity at government level. It involves the study of efficacy and safety issues, research, legislation, educa- tion and training, cost-effectiveness and socio-epidemiological studies. Two delegates from the UK to the inaugural meet- ing in Brussels were elected on to the Management Commit- tee: Jonathan Monckton, Director of the Research Council for Complementary Medicine, as Vice-Chairman, and Dr George Lewith, co-Director, Centre for the Study of Complementary Medicine, Southampton, and Editor of CTM.

Results of both national and international surveys will be published in CTM.

A joint RCCMlCOST conference will take piace in June 1994 (see above). Contact: Jonathan Monckton, Director, Research Council for Complementary Medicine, 60 Great Ormond Street, London WC1 3JF (071 833 8897)

The Institute for Complementary Medicine is to receive up to tlm from an anonymous American donor. The money will go towards supporting three projects: the accrediation of courses in complementary medicine; the foundation of the International College of Complementary Medicine; and the employment of specialist help to establish National Vocational Qualifications. Contact: Anthony Baird, Director, Institute for Complementary Medicine, PO Box 194, London SE16 1QZ (071 237 5165)

Grampian Local Health Community from its survey in 1993 found that one-third of the people in the area had taken up complementary medicine. As a result, a conference was held in November to ask the question: should the Grampian Health Board purchase complementary medicine, and has a suffi- ciently scientific case been made to do so?

The feeling of the conference was that there is a good case for osteopathy and chiropractic for back pain and, on the grounds of scientific evidence, acupuncture could be purchased for chronic pain and nausea/vomiting. This background data was provided by the Information Service of the Research Coun-

cil for Complementary Medicine (see above), The Panel will be submitting a report, details of which will appear in CTM.

Centre for Community Care & Primary Health (Univer- sity of Westminster) have recently launched a new MA course in Therapeutic Bodywork. It is a 2 year day-release part-time course: 1 year day-release leading to Diploma; 1 year disserta-

tion for MA. Open to doctors, graduate nurses, osteopaths, chi- ropractors, physiotherapists, practitioners of Traditional Chi- nese Medicine, Shiatsu, body-orientated psychotherapists and massage therapists. Contact: Registrar, Centre for Community Care & Primary Health, 33 Queen Anne Street, London WlM 9FB (071 255 3550)

Council for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CCAM) is working on a policy concerned with their concept of the integration of their members into the NHS system. Contact: Stephen Gordon, Chairman, CCAM (0953 887521)

Determining European Standards for the Safe and Effec- tive Use of Phytomedicines is the title given to a new pro- gramme within the European Commission. This is the result of an application made by Simon Mills, Centre for CompIe- mentary Health Studies, University of Exeter, on behalf of 24 European scientists.

The EC has undertaken to provide 320,000 ECU to the end of 1996, supporting a multi-centre work already underway in setting rigorous and official therapeutic standards for herbal medicines that are licensed for sale in countries within the Community. Contact: Simon Mills, Director, Centre for Complementary Health Studies, University of Exeter, Streatham Court, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4PU (0392 433828)

Integrated Health Insurance Programme was launched last autumn by the Hale Clinic in London, giving full cover for hospital accommodation, nursing charges, and fees for special- ist medical consultants, surgeons and anaesthetists at specially selected hospitals within the UK. It incorporates a Personal Programme designed to treat illness, promote health and pre- vent disease by drawing on the wide range of conventional and complementary medical techniques available at the Clinic. Contact: The Hale Clinic, 7 Park Crescent, London W 1N 3HE (071 637 7868)

Foundation for Integrated Medicine was established last October as an independent registered charity, whose funding will include a donation from the sale of each Integrated Health Insurance Programme (see above). Its aims are (1) to educate the public, and practitioners of conventional and complemen- tary medicine about all areas of holistic health; (2) to pro- vide treatment, care and assistance to those in need, and (3) to undertake and publish research into the cost-effectiveness of integration. Contact: The Foundation for Integrated Medicine, 7 Park Cres- cent, London WIN 3HE (071 637 3377)

Ifyou have news of meetings, research studies or integration projects please contact the Newsround Editor: Mary Toase, 6 Watery Lane. London SW20 933 (081 540 2619)