Help stop NHS Homeopathy in Kent

[Deetee]

Heads up, peeps!

The Kent homeopathic hospital's future may depend upon the outcome of a public consultation exercise. Let's try and ensure that the Woo view is countered by rational thinking.

People in Kent are being consulted over whether or not homoeopathic treatment should be paid for by the NHS.
The result of the study by West Kent Primary Care Trust (PCT) will dictate the future for the Homeopathic Hospital in Tunbridge Wells.

A public consultation document entitled "Should the NHS pay for homeopathy?", which will be the focus of discussion, is due to be published on Thursday.
The document, which will be available to the public on request, is the culmination of three months of work by a steering group set up by the PCT.
It outlines the arguments for and against providing homeopathy on the NHS and has a feedback form with a freepost address. All the comments from the events and the feedback forms will be collated into a report compiled by an independent author, and presented to the West Kent PCT board on 26 July, when a final decision will be taken.

The consultation document is due to be published later this week - whether responses are only returnable by paper mail or what I don't know, but I guess we will soon find out. It may be that responses are only valid if theu are from local Kent residents - if so and you know of any who can respond, please encourage them to do so. Fun for the whole family!

 

[Deetee]

Here it is.

The consultation document gives the background to the issues. I see that each person attending for homeopathy was funded to the tune of an average of £250 (nearly £200k overall).

The PCT are obviously treading warily with this one and are keen not to offend anyone's sensibilities. Mealie-mouthed phrases like "There is no clear evidence to support or to recommend against homeopathy" abound (my bold)!

However they do refer to the letter sent out to the Times by Ernst et al earlier this year, and they do include this quote from a GP

“We all share an absolute duty to spend NHS money in both a clinically and cost effective manner. For historical reasons there has been a permissive endorsement of homeopathy across the NHS despite widespread recognition that the theoretical basis in science is implausible. The motto of the Royal College of General Practitioners is “science with compassion.” In this case we must insist on the science. We must not have one without the other.” [Dr James Thallon, GP]​

The PCT propose doing one of 3 things:​

Option 1: Homeopathy funded following decision by Independent Panel.
Option 2: Fixed number of homeopathy visits funded.
Option 3: No homeopathy funded by the NHS.​

There is a feedback form to have your say.

They wish to know roughly where you live in West Kent, but don't need your details, so I see no reason why forms could not be filled by any interested party.​

 

[Mojo]

Mealie-mouthed phrases like "There is no clear evidence to support or to recommend against homeopathy" abound (my bold)!

The messages are a bit mixed. From the news release:

Julia Ross, Director of Civic Engagement for West Kent PCT, said: "We recognise people experience important benefits from homeopathy. However, the question here is whether homeopathy should be a priority for NHS funding in the context of limited public resources."

 

[Mojo]

There is a feedback form to have your say.

They wish to know roughly where you live in West Kent, but don't need your details, so I see no reason why forms could not be filled by any interested party.​

Actually, they don't just ask where you live in West Kent:

Which area do you live in or closest to?

I would have thought that this could be legitimately filled in by anyone from outside West Kent as well.

 

[Blue Bubble]

Actually, they don't just ask where you live in West Kent: I would have thought that this could be legitimately filled in by anyone from outside West Kent as well.

Dang, Mojo beat me to it!

 

[Deetee]

Ha! Well spotted.
So folk like Woollery, Luciana and Zep can truthfully respond to this too.

 

[Deetee]

Seems like the Homeo-Woos are mobilising Big Time.

Anyone who has an interest in what Kent may do with their homeopathy service should respond to the consultation document.

Over at Ben Goldacre's Badscience blog, there is a difference of opinion on whether people from outside the SE of England should respond. However one poster contacted the Primary Care Trust directly to be informed that anyone could respond, so I suggest that all who can respond do so.

The Hospital is run by a couple of homeopathic consultants. Dr David Rapsey has his own homeopathy practice, and also consults from Wimpole St in London. His only claim to fame seems to have been to publish a pilot study on homeopathic treatment of hot flushes - 31 patients, 3 groups, self-reported subjective improvement (and no control groups, never mind any blinding.)

This paper is widely quoted in the [homeopathic] literature. Seems he never got past the "pilot study" phase though - I wonder why not?

The people of Kent have plenty of homeopaths to chose from (106 at last count) so loss of the NHS hospital cannot possibly be the blow they are fearing. Perhaps, perversely, the homeopaths will see an increase in business and income if the hospital closes (well I won't care as long as it's not my taxes funding them).

 

[CapelDodger]

However one poster contacted the Primary Care Trust directly to be informed that anyone could respond, so I suggest that all who can respond do so.

I lived for two years in Kent, and my response is, screw 'em. There, I've said it. I won't actively promote woo with my vote, but I'll happily leave them swinging.