smle The Faculty of Homeopathy Newsletter October 2012 Big changes, big issues – big opportunities Revalidation for doctors is due to be homeopathy outside the medical changes impact on homeopathy in implemented in April 2013, starting first profession and hence the Faculty.) England? Disappointingly, many PCT with NHS doctors and surgeries which fit I It will enhance the reputation of the managers will move to CCG management more easily the revalidation model. Initial Faculty and help to ensure a healthy and continue to view homeopathy as a pilots have flagged issues that the GMC future for medical homeopathy. service, along with other services, that hopes to easily iron out with the first can be cut to make savings. However, round of revalidations. Many Faculty doctors in independent there are opportunities. Entrepreneurial The mechanism for revalidation is practice have received a letter request ing doctors and other specialists could work based on the establishment of desig nated them to notify the GMC of their together to use this change to offer bodies with a Responsible Officer (RO). designated body. We have encouraged services to assist CCGs in managing Designated bodies are usually the place those doctors to note that the Faculty patient loads cost-effectively. of a doctors’ main employment, such of Homeopathy would be the best There are chronic pain patients, as a hospital trust or PCT, with the designated body for revalidation and that geriatric patients and other clinical ROs being clinical directors or heads. the Faculty is working with the DH to path ways that would lend themselves The majority of Faculty doctors will be become a designated body. to a service which not only offered covered by this arrangement. Who will need Faculty revalidation? homeo pathy but also used the skills At present the Faculty of Homeo pathy Currently there are around 20-30 doctors of other professionals such as is not a designated body. However, serious who will need Faculty revalidation, and acupuncturists, physiotherapists, discussions are taking place with the it is anticipated this number will increase GPs etc. It is through engaging now Department of Health (DH) revalidation as doctors retire from NHS practice with GP leaders who will be involved team so that the Faculty is recognised as but continue to practise homeopathy. with the CCGs that we can put forward a designated body. Achieving this status Any members needing revalidation from proposals to have services purchased. would be significantly beneficial, as we the Faculty now or in a few years’ time Doctors and other healthcare would have a homeopathic doctor as an should contact the Faculty or email providers should get involved with the RO who would evaluate practice. This Sara Eames or Cristal Sumner. CCGs and try to sit on committees and would prevent Faculty members being At present revalidation is focusing on panels that will be part of the decision- subjected to final RO approval by doctors, but it will be interesting to see if making process. By sitting on these someone that knows nothing about nurses, midwives and dentists practising boards and giving some time locally, homeopathy. Additionally: in the NHS will, in the future, also be members can help save existing services I It will ensure a clear pathway for our asked to consider revalidation. and commission new ones that build in members in private practice to achieve homeopathy, and deliver a patient centred revalidation, and these include a Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) approach to care. number of our senior members. In England responsibility for healthcare I It will protect our members against the purchasing at local level is moving from HealthWatch possibility of an RO unsympathetic Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to Clinical Local voices make all the difference in towards homeopathy conducting their Commissioning Groups (CCGs). These getting the healthcare services that are revalidation in the future. CCGs are supposed to be up and running needed. Hitherto this role has been I It will help us to maintain our member - by April 2013. Until CCGs have been performed by LINks (Local Involvement ship over the coming years. (There is a established as statutory bodies (anti - Networks), but these are to be replaced clear temptation otherwise for members cipated to be done by the deadline of by HealthWatch England. Made up of to resign from the GMC and practice April 2013), PCTs remain responsible for members of the public, local HealthWatch commissioning and associated finances. groups will review CCG decisions and Between 1st October 2012 and 31st make them accountable for service March 2013, some responsibility for provision. HealthWatch groups will also commissioning will be delegated to those help drive the strategies to ensure the CCGs that have already set up their best healthcare for the locality. structures from the PCT. These will then It is important to get patients involved “shadow” their PCT during the in these new watchdog bodies. Make transitional phase (although in some areas them aware they could play an important the CCGs haven’t been set up to take role influencing local healthcare decisions, IN THIS ISSUE: over from the PCTs) by working as sub- and help to keep homeopathy and other News 1 • Research update 6 committees on their existing regional PCT health services available. The Faculty can Viewpoint 7 • Case studies 8 & 14 Boards. Ideally, in time, each CCG will assist members by providing information Feature 12 • Book review 17 incrementally take on more commission - that will be helpful in getting their patients ing responsibilities. involved locally. If you are interested, What’s on 19 The big question is how will these please contact the Faculty. •• editorial I am writing this editorial aboard flight LH741 somewhere high over Siberia, as I return home from the 67th annual congress of the LMHI (Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis), which took place in the historical Japanese city of Nara. The event was brilliantly organised by the “Harmony through integration” and On behalf of all the UK participants Japanese Physicians Society for Homeo- I discussed the evolving role of the I would like to extend my gratitude for pathy (JPSH), who provided a fascinating homeopathic patient in healthcare. the wonderful hospitality and seamless series of lectures with the overall theme Apart from this diversion, the rest of efficiency with which the 67th annual of “Harmony”. Unfortunately the the congress proceeded very smoothly, congress of the LMHI was run by the programme was disrupted by the rather if a little sticky. A temperature in the mid JPSH. The 68th congress, in Quito, less than harmonious actions of the large 30s accompanied by very high humidity Ecuador will have a hard act to follow Indian contingent who staged a protest came as quite a shock upon my arrival in June 2013. by walking out of at least two sessions from a chilly and wet Glasgow. In other news, a welcome cabinet and refusing to contribute speakers to During the congress I found the reshuffle moved Jeremy Hunt from his others. The problem apparently session on allergies, chaired by Dr Peter position as Culture Secretary to that of stemmed from the fact that congress Fisher, particularly interesting. It included Health Secretary. His previously stated protocol only allowed questions for a presentation by Michel van Wassen - support for homeopathy was invited symposium speakers such as hoven of Belgium who reviewed immediately seized upon by the Peter Gregory and Faculty Pharmacy research on the topic; and Koji Hozawa Guardian , who ran a poll inviting readers Dean, Lee Kayne. This meant there was from Japan who presented the results to say whether they agreed with no opportunity for delegates to ask of a randomised, double-blind, placebo Hunt’s view that “homeopathy is questions following presentations by controlled clinical trial for Japanese cedar making a positive contribution to the invited speakers, including Bob Leckridge pollinosis (JCP) using an isopathic NHS”. Predictably for this newspaper, and myself. Bob’s address was entitled remedy. JCP is one of the most common 71% of an undisclosed number of allergic diseases in Japan with the total respondents apparently indicated that medicinal national cost of treating the they disagreed with Mr Hunt. It will be condition approaching 60 billion yen interesting to see whether Mr Hunt has annually. The trial was so successful that the courage of his convictions and is smle it is to be presented to the Japanese prepared to engage with the Faculty. government to demonstrate the potential From David Lilley in South Africa for homeopathy in reducing the public comes sad news that the South African The Faculty of Homeopathy health costs associated with the Faculty may have to close because of Newsletter treatment of this widespread problem. unmanageable costs. However, all may Dr Hozaka plans to continue this work not be lost just yet as the Health Science with other major Japanese allergens Department of the University of Editor: Steven Kayne in the future. Johannesburg has shown great interest Assistant Editor: John Burry There are no specific regulations in incorporating David’s course into their governing homeopathy in Japan and institution. A meeting is scheduled soon Faculty of Homeopathy remedies are not yet considered to be to assess the viability and should it Hahnemann House medicines. The JPSH are working hard come to fruition it will be a wonderful 29 Park Street West to promote the wider acceptance of vindication of the tireless work that Luton LU1 3BE homeopathy and of course we wish David has performed over the years for them every success. The congress was the South African Faculty, ably assisted Tel: 01582 408680 attended by 318 participants from 31 by colleagues both in South Africa and Fax: 01582 723032 countries with excellent support from from the UK (Bob Leckridge again!).