Complementary and Alternative Therapies

HL Deb 07 May 1998 vol 589 c92WA

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of the widespread and growing use of complementary and alternative therapies, what is their view about the need for more research into their safety and effectiveness. [HL1688]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

The need for more research into the safety and effectiveness of complementary and alternative therapies is recognised and is being addressed through the National Health Service and other research and development programmes.

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it will be open to the primary care commissioning groups proposed in the White Paper The New NHS to include complementary therapies in the range of treatments provided to NHS patients. [HL1690]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

Primary care groups will provide a direct means by which general practitioners, their primary care team and community nurses, working in co-operation with other health and social care professionals, will lead the process of securing appropriate, high quality care for local people. This process may include complementary therapies where the primary care group decides that such treatment is appropriate.