Sustaining complementary therapy provision in primary care: lessons from existing services

Author(s): . Thomas, K.

Abstract: Objective:To examine factors which sustain complementary therapy services in primary care in order to inform policy making in a context of rapid change. Design: In-depth qualitative case studies, including semi-structured interviews with key informants. Setting: I 0 existing schemes of complementary therapy provision in primary care across England. Results: GPs and complementary practitioners reported wide-ranging benefits from complementary therapy provision in primary care. However, they felt that their ability to sustain complementary therapy provision was mediated by a) funding, b) the need for research, and c) appropriate service delivery mechanisms. a) Many schemes were the result of and sustained by personal vision.As such they had negotiated a variety of funding sources over a considerable period, against a background perception that continued funding was uncertain. b) Most informants believed that more research was needed to provide a solid evidence base for service continuation and development, in particular clinical and cost-effectiveness work. c)The manner of service delivery, notably whether a service was located within a general practice or in a referral centre, was seen as having implications for the integration of practitioners and for patient access to services. Conclusions: Current complementary therapy provision in primary care has developed on an ´ad hoc' basis. In particular, the existence of GP fundholding in the I 990s, in which primary care physicians were able to purchase health services an a practice basis, facilitated the development of services in this way.Within the current Primary Care Group context, where purchasing decisions are made collectively by a group of general practices within a region, consideration needs to be given to both the continuity of schemes already in existence and to whether a more standardized approach to service development will be required to facilitate sustainable provision.

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