HL Deb 30 April 1985 vol 463 cc117-9

2.50 p.m.

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for giving the Institute for Complementary Medicine a grant to support a detailed investigation into the professional training and standards of the major institutions concerned with the education of therapy practitioners.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, we have not received any recent application from the institute for a grant. We are, however, always prepared to consider well-founded applications for funding but they do have to compete with other bids for limited funds.

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that encouraging reply, but should not a small and limited amount of public money be made more generally available to independent and charitably endowed bodies who, in the national interest, set out to improve training and standards as outlined? And although direct dispensation of medical care is no job for the Government, conversely, would not this type of indirect and limited action, if pursued, confirm even more the current impressions that the present Government possess excellent health and good judgment?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, it is up to each individual body to make its bid, as I said in my original reply. The Government do not favour any one body over others in the field of alternative medicine. However, it cannot be in the interests of either alterna tive therapists or patients for there to be so many rival umbrella organisations, each claiming to perform the same function. They should seek to get together and work towards common goals.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, does the noble Baroness the Minister accept that there are in the country increasing numbers of patients who are turning to these alternative methods of therapy, sometimes recommended by their own general practitioners? This is recognised by the BMA itself. Does not the noble Baroness accept that, if people are to turn to alternative forms of therapy, it is extremely important that the therapist should be both well trained and effectively registered?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, in reply to all the noble Lord's questions my answer is, yes.

Lord Ferrier

My Lords, can my noble friend confirm that the EEC authorities have approved the curriculum of the Anglo-European college of chiropractics at Bournemouth?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, some alternative therapies have achieved recognition in some other countries. Attempts by Governments in those countries to bring these therapies within the method of treatment covered by their national health arrangements have met with strong opposition from other health care professionals. It is the case, of course, that in some other countries of Western Europe alternative therapists, even those wishing to practise privately, are at a greater disadvantage than in this country where at present they have the right to practise under common on law.

Lord Winstanley

My Lords, while I fully support the theme underlying the Question of the noble Earl, if the Government are satisfied, as I hope they are, that further detailed investigations are necessary, may I ask whether they will see to it that any grants are spread a little more widely, and are not given just to this organisation, the Institute for Complementary Medicine, which, as the noble Baroness said, is by no means the only one in this field? Could they perhaps take in bodies such as the Medical Research Council, which is admirably placed to carry out some of these investigations but which at the moment cannot carry out all the investigations it would wish because of lack of resources?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, each application is dealt with on its merits.

Lord Prys-Davies

My Lords, what initiative will the Government take to ensure that the public are safeguarded, or better safeguarded, against persons who can open up business with a minimum of qualifications and the minimum of training, if, indeed, any at all?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, people who seek treatment by alternative practitioners would do well to consult their family doctors and to find out whether the practitioner concerned is a member of a well-established group with professional standards. The department is not in the position to define professional standards in this field. It must be remembered that some doctors themselves practise alternative medicine.