Reflexology on the NHS? Put a Foot Down for Funded Referrals

Are the days of the good old family doctor gone forever, the archetypal doctor who knows your medical history first hand?

Sadly it seems so, with GP’s in Britain busier than ever before, dealing with more constrictions, and time limitations, leaving patients feeling un-listened to and hurried.

With more people taking an active interest in health issues and in particular the detrimental effects of stress on the body, along with an abundant medical resource at their finger tips in the form of the colossal encyclopedic internet, patients often now diagnose their own symptoms before visiting their GP.

The growing interest in the use of complementary health treatments has seen a definite shift in patient attitudes, with many combining orthodox treatments with Acupuncture, Shiatsu, or Reflexology to help specific problems, but also as a preventative treatment to help keep their body in good balance.

Patients are now recommended Reflexology treatments by many GP’s and Reflexologists are working alongside nurses across the country in hospices and voluntarily in NHS hospitals.

“Research has shown that approximately 20% of the UK population use complementary healthcare, with nearly 50% of GP practices offering some form of access to complementary treatments.” The Prince of Wales Trust for Integrated Health

The change has been slow in up take, but is gathering momentum fast, with more GP’s seeing the positive benefits of Reflexology, and pioneering organisations such as the Prince of Wales Trust for Integrated Health, pushing for regulation, integration and ultimately funded referrals, change is afoot, quite literally!

It is a very positive time for integration with orthodox medicine which has been saving thousands of lives since the middle of the 19th century and in the past fifty years has given the UK the free health treatment we all want and need on the NHS which was established in 1948.

Eastern complementary medicines, practised for centuries are seamlessly merging, creating a well rounded and diverse health system, giving the patient more choice, more time and most importantly, more treatment.

Now that GP’s are referring patients for Reflexology, the next push is for funded referrals, at the moment only those who can afford Reflexology are enjoying its benefits and often the people that cannot such as the elderly for example, are the most in need.

There are some complementary health clinics and some Doctors surgeries that do offer funded referrals, which is a really positive step, but currently they are the exception rather than the rule, the fact that its happening is very encouraging for patients, practitioners and for the recognition of Reflexology as a treatment that really works.

How we can all help:

Patients using Reflexology: Tell your GP’s how you’re benefiting from Reflexology and make inquiries about funded treatments.

Reflexologists: Encourage patients to ask their GP’s for funded treatments, the more people asking, the louder the message will become.

By: Amy Brennan

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