§ Sir Donald ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the policy of the NHS on the use of complementary therapies where they are found to be cost-effective; and what criteria are in use to enable the medical professionals and the management to choose and judge;
(2) how the NHS assesses the therapies it considers complementary.
§ Mr. SackvilleOur policy is that the national health service should assess interventions on the basis of their effectiveness in improving or maintaining health. There are a variety of sources of information on effectiveness, and we are seeking to make such information more readily accessible to managers and clinicians who need it.