Complementary and alternative medicines      

FOI REFERENCE: 24324  FOI DATE: 23 August 2024     

Request:

This is an information request relating to Complementary and alternative medicines offered in NHS trusts

Please include the following information:

Total number of patients that have received treatment that falls under this category 

What existing problem did they have in order to qualify for this treatment 

The specific treatment they received. (e.g. acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicines, homoeopathy)

The cost of each treatment for each patient.

The definition of complementary and alternative medicines

is here:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/#:~:text=Complementary%20and%20alternative%20medicine%20

Response:

The only treatment Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust offers that falls within this category is acupuncture.

We do not have data for the specific amount of patients but it is a reasonably small number.

Treatment is only offered as per NICE Guidelines NG193 (Chronic pain) and CG150 (Headaches). This is only offered alongside physiotherapy intervention and not alone.

This is a ‘consider’ within NICE guidelines and as such is also only offered at the discretion of the treating physiotherapist and only if appropriately trained.