What is people's problem regarding Homeopathic and Holistic Medical care? Don't let people who know little destroy others lives even more.

What is people's problem regarding Homeopathic and Holistic Medical care? 

ref: http://www.thenational.scot/news/would-be-msp-says-he-will-lead-the-way-in-debate-on-ending-homeopathy-on-nhs.8175 -Would-be MSP says he will lead the way in debate on ending homeopathy on NHS This story in today's 'The National', regarding would be MSP Anas Hassan who is seeking nomination to the SNP list in Mid Scotland and Fife for next years Holyrood election, is just the latest of a long line.

As can be seen from the following stories that have appeared in the press Health Boards (NHS Lothians, NHS Highland, NHS Lanarkshire) seem to be able to opt out of providing badly needed services to patients who can not be helped by conventional medicine.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13193012.Health_board_to_stop_sending_patients_to_homeopathic_hospital/ -

Health board to stop sending patients to homeopathic hospital 

from The Herald: Tuesday 9th December 2014

http://www.thenational.scot/news/integrated-care-unit-faces-death-by-thousand-cuts.3792 -

Integrated care unit ‘faces death by thousand cuts’

from The National: Saturday 6th June 2015

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/13332247.Campaigners_take_fight_for_homeopathic_hospital_to_Holyrood/ from the Glasgow Evening Times: Tuesday 9th June 2015

Despite the jury still being out in the medical establishment holistic and homeopathic medicine can offer very real benefits.

Centre for Integrative Care, Glasgow (formerly Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital)

The amount of money spent on this type of medicine is extremely small

The amount of money spent on this type of medicine is extremely small in comparison to conventional medicine the latter having limited or no effect in many long term seriously life limiting conditions. The most obvious example of the Scottish NHS' lukewarm (I am being generous) committment to this form of medicine is the former Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital which recently several Scottish Health Boards have stopped referring patients to citing no doubt monetary constraints. Please see above stories regarding NHS Lothian, NHS Highland and NHS Lanarkshire.

The NHS Centre for Integrative Care, on the Gartnavel Hospitals site in the west end of Glasgow, offers people with long term conditions a wide range of opportunities to enhance their health and quality of life. Most patients referred to the Centre are experiencing chronic pain, chronic low energy, and/or chronic low mood or anxiety. However, any patient with a long term condition may benefit from the care provided here.

Inside the Centre for Integrative Care, Glasgow

Conventional medicine can have little or no positive effect on many long term life limiting conditions

Take myself as an example.

I have several long term conditions, some of which are severely life limiting. I have CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) or ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy), fybromyalgia and long term incontinence. Very little can be done for any of these conditions using conventional medicine, and certainly nothing can be done to cure them. Excluding the latter condition (which was incidentally caused by conventional medicine), The Centre for Integrative Care has using holistic and homeopathic therapies have been a great deal more successful than any conventional medicine in their treatments.

holistic and homeopathic therapies have been a great deal more successful than any conventional medicine

I have been through several of their courses all of which to varying degrees have been eye openers and successful. From enabling a greater understanding of the possible causes of my conditions, to offering assistance with diet and supplements to homeopathic medicine, meditation (mindfullness, relaxation, etc.) they have been an extremely positive input to my improvement so far although I am still far from well (as yet!!!).

Reception at the Centre for Integrative Care, Glasgow

I am particularly confused by people's adverse reaction to homeopathic prescriptions being available on the NHS. As is usual with someone with one of more life limiting medical conditions I have to live life on social security benefits provided grudgingly by the UK state. A lot of the time therefore I must choose all ready between heat and good food, and as a result of the lack of funds and the illness I have a very limited life. Homeopathic prescriptions would therefore at most cost a maximum of about £50 per year, something I can ill afford. The number of these prescriptions is again very small in comparison to those which are of the conventional type which I receive for free. Given that they are also of more assistance in the treatment of my condition then the idea that this facility should be withdrawn is at best regressive and at worst down right nasty for very little financial benefit for the Government or Health Boards.

As is usual with someone with one of more life limiting medical conditions I have to live life on social security benefits provided grudgingly by the UK state.

I have had I believe 4 homeopathic prescriptions. 3 of these have worked, the fourth did not. If there was a placebo effect I would have thought that none of them would work, or all of them would work, not some.

In 3 of the cases through the proceeding discussion I had with the consultant I knew what these prescriptions were meant to treat, one I did not. The one which was supplied with me being unaware what it was meant to treat was one of the most successful which really rules out any placebo effect. It was to treat pain and itch (the latter being part of the irritation being experienced by the same nerves) - it virtually removed pain and reduced the itch. Perhaps another slightly different one will remove the itch which in many ways is worse than the pain and this is only achievable through consultations with a qualified homeopathic consultant.

Inside the Centre for Integrative Care, Glasgow

As with many things I am bemused as to why people who are obviously unaware of the difficulty of living with a long term condition would want to take away something which works, at worst providing comfort and hope at a time in someone's life when there is little. 

I believe the Centre for Integrative Care in Glasgow and homeopathic prescriptions actually save the NHS money (as it no longer has to supply pointless conventional medicine), improve people's quality of life and in many cases offer a life changing improvement.

For so little money spent I think the NHS Lothian, NHS Highland and NHS Lanarkshire boards and the SNP MSP hopeful Anas Hassan need to educate themselves. Willful ignorance is no defence.

If you wish to help save homeopathic services on the NHS in Scotland, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland then please sign the petition below...
https://www.change.org/p/save-nhs-homeopathy

Don't let people who know little destroy others lives even more.

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Amount spent on the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital - a freedom of information request made in 2011
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/amount_spent_on_the_glasgow_home

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https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/amount_spent_on_the_glasgow_home
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4040/Homeopathy-works.html

I am not one to share anything from the Daily Fail lightly. 

'Each day for four weeks patients recruited from general practices and a hospital in London measured their nasal air flow and recorded symptoms such as blocked, runny or itchy nose, sneezing or eye irritation.Both groups reported that they got better - but on average patients who received homeopathy had a 28 per cent improvement in nasal air flow compared with 3 per cent among those in the placebo group.'

https://www.homeopathic.com/Articles/Introduction_to_Homeopathy/A_Great_Introductory_Article_for_Advocates_O.html

https://www.homeopathic.com/Articles/Homeopathic_research/Scientific_Evidence_for_Homeopathic_Medicine.html