http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8068427.stm
It seems resistance is futile to CAM ...
(sorry - just noticed this was mentioned in 'Value of Chiros' thread)
NICE can usually be counted on to provoke a reaction with their decisions but it's usually to save the NHS money. I wonder if that might be what's going on here, too?
Last edited by Mulder; 27th May 2009 at 09:39 AM.
Given that NHS hypodermic needles have to be used once only (as far as I know), does that mean that NHS acupuncture needles will have to be disposable as well? And will the "internal market" charge for every needle at something like £35, the way it does for hypodermics?Originally Posted by Mulder
Thought NICE was supposed to only licence treatments with a reasonable evidence base. How naive of me!
I suppose it makes a change from prescribing anti-depressants for everything for which there is no simple diagnosis.
It licenced CBT. What's new - they don't present any evidence that I can see on their web site.
Just political pressure.
Maybe (by way of example) it's linked to the fact that Bradford Teaching Hospitals spend £1million plus every year on "Corporate Affairs" - whatever that is!
It's ok, a work colleague has a friend who found that acupuncture was the only thing that worked for her back pain. All the proof I need.
Just because NICE don't know which method works best doesn't mean the patient does, and if there really is no difference between the different treatments shouldn't the NHS provide the cheapest or most convinient?NICE says anyone whose pain persists for more than six weeks and up to a year should be given a choice of several treatments, because the evidence about which works best is uncertain.
Two obvious issues arise:
1. Where evidence is lacking not all suggested 'treatments' can be presumed to have equal efficacy, some are logical (based on an understanding of the pathology of the condition and agents/activities that have been shown to favorably impact the abnormalities identified) others have no possible logical basis (homeopathy).
2. Associated baggage. For example I am certain that evalangelical christians treat back pain and it would be difficult to prove that their efforts are significantly less effective than other treatments. The consequences of recommending a 'course of christianisation' would obviously be unacceptable, but consider what chiropracters and accupunturists can get up to once the NHS is pushing business their way!
From the latest NICE report on chronic LBP -
"3.3.7 The hourly rate we have used is based on the market rate for employing an osteopath. This is estimated to be £50 per hour, based on enquiries into market rates. We have also assumed that an osteopath can be expected to see an average of two patients per hour, once initial patient assessments have been carried out."
£50 per hour ???? Where did they get that from .
My private rate is £32.00 per visit (average half an hour I suppose) Are they talking current private rate or pay rate for the few osteopaths in hospitals ( presume that that includes all costs like holiday pay, pension etc). I wouldnt mind at all having £50 per hour plus pension plus holidays plus whatever else one gets if one is employed. However, if we are talking £50 per hour for private work, that means about a 30 per cent cut in my net income. i think.
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