Scope of Homeopathy in United Kingdom

Dr K R Mansoor Ali
In the United Kingdom Homeopathy treatment is available and funded by the National Health Service (NHS),  and some health insurance companies will recognize treatment by homeopaths. Common law allows  anyone to practice any therapy as long as they do not claim to be a medical doctor (MD). The  majority of treatment is provided privately, funded by the patient.

Background information
Successive governments have ensured that as long as patients require complementary/alternative treatment, access to it will be guaranteed. As a result, the United Kingdom is the only country in the European Union with public-sector hospitals for complementary/alternative medicine. Indeed, there are National Health Service homeopathic hospitals in London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, and Tunbridge Wells.

Complementary/alternative medications, homeopathic products, and other natural remedies are becoming increasingly popular and are now widely available in health food stores and pharmacies. In order to become a member of a professional organization, non-allopathic practitioners must be covered by insurance and adhere to the Code of Professional Ethics

Regulatory situation
Although homeopathy practitioners without an allopathic medical degree are tolerated by law, only medical providers holding a university degree in allopathic medicine are officially recognized to practise medicine as a physician, a person must posses a certificate or qualification from the faculty of medicine of a university and complete one year of general clinical training. During the clinical training period, a physician candidate has provisional registration. After satisfactorily completing the training, the candidate may obtain full registration. Being a registered medical practitioner confers privileges and responsibilities, including the right to use the title or describe oneself as a registered practitioner, to be recognized by law as a physician or surgeon, to recover fees for medical attendance or advice in a court of law, to hold specific posts, to provide general medical services in the National Health Service, and to give some statutory certificates. The General Medical Council, a statutory body that regulates the medical profession, maintains the register of qualified allopathic doctors.

In 1950, the Government gave official recognition to homeopathy in the Faculty of Homeopathy Act.
Homeopathic and other natural remedies are sold by many independent pharmacies.
The European Directive on Homeopathic Products regulates the making and marketing of homeopathic products in the United Kingdom.

1. Medically qualified homeopaths and other statutorily regulated health care professionals
The Faculty of Homeopathy regulates the training and practice of  homeopathy by medically qualified doctors – doctors with allopathic qualification, vets and other health care professionals. There is a published list of doctors who are members of the Faculty. The most experienced homeopathic physicians have gained the qualifications FFHom (Fellow of the Faculty of Homeopathy) or MFHom  (Member of the Faculty of Homeopathy).

The qualification LFHom (Licensed Associate of the Faculty of Homeopathy) indicates a doctor  who has passed the Primary Health Care Examination and may use  homeopathy in a limited way for minor ailments. They are not in a position to provide a specialist homeopathic opinion.

Further information is available from:
Faculty of Homeopathy
15 Clerkenwell Close
London EC1R 0AA Tel: 020 7566 7810
website: www.trusthomeopathy.org

2.Non-medically qualified homeopaths
There is currently no single registering body. The Society of Homeopaths is  the largest organisation representing specialist homeopaths. All homeopaths  registered with the Society (RSHom) practise in accordance with a Code of  Ethics and Practice, hold professional insurance, and have passed academic  and clinical assessments before being admitted to the Register. The Society offers advice on employing a homeopath in general practice settings.

The Society of Homeopaths is a source of general information as well as  offering advice about finding a local practitioner. Their internet site includes a searchable database of therapists who are registered with the society.

Homeopathic practitioners without an academic degree provide the largest proportion of complementary/alternative medicine.

Further information is available from:
The Society of Homeopaths
4a Artizan Road
Northampton NN1 4HU Tel: 01604 621400
website: www.homeopathy-soh.org

Professional Status
The therapist needs to demonstrate proof of membership of a  professional body and that this body requires members to abide by codes of conduct and/or practice, ethics and discipline. In the case of therapies  or organisations not covered in section 6, it is advised that further details  are obtained from the particular organisation . General advice may also be obtained from the Foundation for Integrated

Education and training
The British Medical Association recommends incorporating complementary/alternative medicine into the undergraduate curriculum of medical schools and making accredited postgraduate training available.

The Faculty of Homeopathy Act empowers the Faculty of Homeopathy to train, examine, and confer diplomas in homeopathy to allopathic physicians and other statutorily recognized health professionals .

Insurance coverage
Some private insurance programmes reimburse homeopathy when they are provided by allopathic physicians.

Authorised Groups
Society of Homeopaths (SOH)
2 Artizan Road
Northampton NN1 4HU
Tel: 01604 621400

Homeopathic Medical Association (HMA)
6 Livingstone Road
Gravesend
Kent DA12 5DZ
Tel: 01474 560336

Faculty of Homeopathy (FH)
15 Clerkenwell Close
London EC1R 0AA
Tel: 020 7566 7810

NON-MEDICALLY QUALIFIED HOMEOPATHY PRACTITIONER have
Qualification :
Practitioners should be in receipt of a recognised qualification from a  training establishment which is accredited by a suitable regulatory body.

Registration
Practitioners must be registered with a recognised professional body which  requires its members to abide by codes of conduct, ethics and discipline.

Insurance
Practitioners must have adequate professional indemnity insurance cover  that applies to the period of their employment.

Consent
Patients must be fully informed about the nature of the therapy and its  effects, including any side effects, and have realistic expectations of its  benefits. The informed consent of the patient or, in the case of young  children, of the parent or guardian, must be gained and documented.

Medical Responsibility
Practitioners should be aware that patients referred to them for treatment  remain the overall responsibility of the referring clinician. CAM  practitioners should not advise discontinuing existing orthodox treatments  without the agreement of the referring clinician.

Documentation
A written record should be kept by practitioners of the consultation and  each episode of treatment. All written (and oral information) should be  treated as confidential and take account of the needs of the Data Protection Act and Caldicott review.

CME
Practitioners should take responsibility for keeping abreast of developments in the practice of their therapy.

Quality Standards
Practitioners, in conjunction with other health care professionals, should assist with the development of local standards and guidelines for practice.

Audit
Practitioners should undertake clinical audit and should report results to  the employing or commissioning practice/PCG. They should be  responsible for monitoring the outcome of therapy; opinions of patients  should be actively sought and included in any evaluation.

Research
Practitioners should be expected to agree to take part in research trials to  support the evaluation and development of treatment programmes.

Health & Safety
Practitioners should comply with the requirements of Health and Safety  legislation and adhere to good practice in the protection of staff, patients and the public.

Control of Infection
Practitioners should adhere to regulations governing infection control and follow the procedure for reporting outbreaks of infection.

Revenue
It generally takes at least two years to build up a practice so other work may be necessary to support yourself at first. Some homeopaths practice additional complementary therapies, such as kinesiology, reflexology and flower essences.

Immigration details
United Kingdom : http://flightdelayclaimsteam.com/uk-visas-immigration/

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Ministry of Health UK
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm