Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2003; 8: 160
To generate new national estimates of the provision of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in National Health Service (NHS) primary care in England, and to describe any changes observed in patterns of patient access to CAM in primary care since our previous survey in 1995.
A postal questionnaire and up to two reminders were sent to 1203 randomly selected general practitioners (GPs) in a stratified random cluster sample of one in eight GP partnerships in England. A response rate of 72.3% (870/1203) was achieved. This was similar to the 78.6% obtained in 1995, and was representative of the sample frame for known practice characteristics. A total of 760 responders gave detailed information on the services provided.
We estimate that half the general practices in England (confidence interval 46–52%) provided some access to CAM therapies in 2001. Between 1995 and 2001, the proportion of practices with CAMs provided by GPs, nurses and physiotherapists increased by 38%; CAM services involving an independent practitioner working at the practice doubled to 12%. Little change was evident in the percentage of practices making NHS referrals for CAMs, but the proportion of ‘in-house’ services supported by patient payments rose from 26% to 42%. In 2001, CAM therapies were being used in UK primary care for patients in each of the NHS priority groups.
We found no evidence to support the commonly held belief that the reconfiguration of UK primary care services in 1999 had resulted in a decline in patient access to CAM services. Overall, access increased between 1995 and 2001. However, the reported growth in patient payment for these services has equity implications. To meet acceptable standards of clinical governance, evidence is needed regarding the CAM qualifications and training of all those providing this type of care to NHS primary-care patients.
