smleThe Faculty of Homeopathy Newsletter April 2009 TWHH closes but demand for homeopathy still strong After a prolonged and passionately- fought battle to save the service, the Tunbridge Wells Homeopathic Hospital closed its doors to homeopathy patients for the final time at the end of March. It brings to an end 106 continuous years of homeopathy on the National Health Service there. The hospital began life as a dispensary back in 1863 in The Pantiles, the elegant pedestrianised area of Tunbridge Wells. The dispensary moved to Hanover Road in 1886, and then to Grosvenor Road in 1887, where two houses were converted into a small hospital. The final move came in 1903, to premises on Church Road. Further wings were added to the building in the 1920s and 30s and the hospital supported a small in-patient service until the 1980s. At this time the outpatient service Faculty Chief Executive Cristal Sumner accepts a portrait of Hahnemann from started to expand. Anne Clover, who Tunbridge Wells consultants David Ratsey and Helmut Roniger, signifying the end of was a consultant at TWHH 1980-2001, an era at the hospital. Over 70 people gathered at TWHH on 14 March to mark the remembers: “Demand grew for closure of the service: as well as local patients and former staff, the Mayor and Mayoress of Tunbridge Wells and Greg Clark MP were in attendance; conversations homeopathy throughout the 1980s and were positive about the future provision of a homeopathic service in the town and early 1990s. In 1980 we started with the issue was once again highlighted in the local press. two sessions a week and one clinical Photo: Courier Media Group assistant session. By the mid 1990s a second consultant had been appointed and there were 12 consultant sessions week. Regular teaching programmes When it became clear that the cost and two clinical assistant sessions a were established in the late 1990s and savings from the closure of our they rapidly became popular. In addition department would be, at best, we had very good interaction with negligible and at worst, cost more other clinical departments in the town, money, it turned into an ideological working regularly with other physicians battle. A strong campaign of support by and surgeons in the area. local residents and patients during the “TWHH was a super place to work consultation period was ultimately and it was a privilege to be able to offer ignored, which was very disappointing. complementary medicine in the NHS “It remains for me to thank all of as part of an integrated care prog- our supporters for their efforts. ramme. It is sad that the service has Thankfully, the PCT does recognise that come to an end in its current guise, but homeopathy may play a role as part of homeopathy is an established idea that a multidisciplinary approach in primary will find other routes of presentation, care. GP supporters should therefore IN THIS ISSUE: I’m sure.” look out for this opportunity to lobby News 1-7 TWHH consultant Helmut Roniger their PBC groups. Secondary care Research update 8 comments: “Originally West Kent PCT homeopathic referrals to the RLHH will Comment 9 claimed that withdrawing funding from be possible after approval by an Case studies 13-15 our department was necessary to individual treatment panel; the criteria Events 16-20 conform with a financial turnaround are still under discussion and I hope plan to bring the PCT’s deficit down. that our concerns will be listened to.” •• editorial I am very happy! For me this is the best time of year. I feel positive and energised. We have emerged from a long and sometimes hard winter and spring has sprung. smle There is very good reason to be happy in this work for you?’.1 The author The Faculty of Homeopathy homeopathy research circles in particular highlights the difference in perception Newsletter at the moment. The Veterinary Record on whether a drug works between and homeopathy seem like a very unlikely researchers and patients. When Editor: Steven Kayne combination but it is a compliment to the patients say a drug “works” they robust nature of the research on the typically mean that most patients Assistant Editor: Sarah Buckingham treatment of atopic dermatitis in dogs respond to the drug. This, however, is Editorial assistant: Sam Weaver that a collaborative paper between Bristol rarely the case: countless drugs that Vet School, the Faculty and the BHA was have been shown in randomised Faculty of Homeopathy Hahnemann House published in that journal recently (see controlled trials to be effective work in 29 Park Street West news page 3). The work needs to be only a minority of patients. In fact, Luton LU1 3BE replicated at other centres, but what a some of the most prescribed drugs Tel: 0870 444 3955 great achievement. today have no effect in most patients Fax: 0870 444 3960 The newspapers have carried reports who take them. The author’s point is Email: [email protected] that researchers in America believe they not that drugs evaluated in randomised Web: www.facultyofhomeopathy.org have finally found a cure for potentially controlled trials are not terrific. They deadly peanut allergies among children. are. Rather, the problem is that patients All the material in this publication is copyright and may not be reproduced without permission. The so-called therapy treatment, and doctors lose sight of what trials The publishers do not necessarily identify with conducted by North Carolina’s Duke actually show and either have false or hold themselves responsible for contributors’, correspondents’ or advertisers’ opinions. University, recommended that expectations of drugs’ effectiveness or youngsters should start by sprinkling as are unaware that they should be vigilant little as one-thousandth of a peanut about the possibility that the drug may Faculty Council: onto their food, gradually increasing have no effect whatsoever in any one Peter Darby, Dental Dean: their daily ration to around 15 over a person and hence fail to consider the [email protected] two-year period. In the main study, need to switch or stop taking the drug. Christopher Day, Veterinary Dean: conducted on 33 children, all but four This places emphasis on [email protected] volunteers reported they can now eat individualisation of treatment, Patricia Donnachie, Nursing Dean: peanuts without developing an allergic something we accept as one of the [email protected] reaction. The new research follows main requirements of practice. Sara Eames, President: similar findings reported in February by We turn to the topic of Continuing [email protected] British doctors from Addenbrookes Professional Development in our feature Julie Geraghty, Vice-President: hospital in Cambridge. Patients were on page 12. All professions, whether [email protected] given daily doses of peanut flour, starting health-related or not, include require- Jonathan Hardy, Independent Practice Representative: with a five milligram serving and slowly ments for elements of reflective [email protected] building up over six months to 800 practice. As announced at the Faculty Graham Jagger, NHS Primary Care milligrams. Same to treat same? Now AGM we are increasing opportunities Representative: there’s a really novel idea... We thought for you to satisfy your CPD requirements [email protected] of using isopathic remedies to treat nut through Simile by including questions at Lee Kayne, Pharmacy Dean: allergy at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital the end of cases (see page 15). The [email protected] some years ago but decided not to ‘Comment’ section is being expanded Tariq Khan, Podiatry Dean: pursue it at the time because of the and will give you a chance to let off steam [email protected] possibility of precipitating an anaphylactic on important issues of the day. We will Bob Leckridge, Promotion Committee response. In the light of these revelations be introducing some other new features Convener: we obviously missed the boat. – so please watch this space and enjoy! [email protected] From Northern Ireland comes great Finally this time, if you have not Tim Robinson, Members’ Committee news that a government-sponsored accessed the Faculty website may Convener: [email protected] report has recommended that I suggest that you point your browser complementary medicine should be in its direction? If (like me!) you have Helmut Roniger, NHS Secondary Care Representative: incorporated into primary care forgotten the details you need to log in [email protected] (see page 5). A remarkable 84 per cent then send those nice people at John Saxton, Immediate Past-President: of patients were satisfied that CAM had Hahnemann House a quick email and [email protected] worked for them. they will get you up and running Raymond Sevar, Dean: I am rather behind in my perusing of (see page 6). [email protected] the journals so it was only recently that Andrew Sikorski, Treasurer: I got around to leafing through an old Steven Kayne [email protected] BMJ (yes, I still prefer having the journal in my hand rather than being Reference Design: Wildcat Design [email protected] online!). I found a really interesting 1 Christakis N A Does this work for Printing: Piggott Black Bear, Cambridge observation in an article entitled ‘Does you? BrMedJ 2008;337:a2281 2 •• news Choose and Book finally Arthritis report left out recognises CAM important data Complementary medicine listed by clinic specialty A report published by the system in the report) of 3/5 has now been listed as a (for example, pediatrics or Arthritis Research Campaign (‘promising evidence’) rather specialty under the Choose dermatology) but in February on the effective- than 2/5 (‘a little evidence’).