Complementary therapies and the changing NHS: a Development Officer’s view

Abstract: Debate on integration is failing to register fundamental change within the NHS. Scientific credibility and training and standards are not the issues they once were. The purchaserprovider split, the internal market, the shifting of resources from secondary to primary care and a focus on 'time' present a different agenda. Some initial opportunities for integration, stemming from the reforms, have been lost, and this loss could be a blessing to those interested in the holistic approach. If opportunities are to return, then the internal market needs to be cracked open and to become a real market, contracting also with the independent sector. Moves towards such a change could be helped if the independent sector were more robust and business-like. More importantly, complementary therapy bodies must move away from the idea of 'integration' (which they have not properly pursued) and energetically develop their responsibility to resource therapy organisations comprehensively (clinics, holistic centres, etc.) who wish to offer contracted services to the NHS.

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