HL Deb 11 October 2004 vol 665 cc30-1WA
Lord McColl of Dulwich

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the proposals in the consultation document on herbal medicine and acupuncture, published in March, will affect the provision of acupuncture within the National Health Service by doctors, nurses and physiotherapists. [HL4183]

Lord Warner

We published proposals for the statutory regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture practitioners on 2 March 2004. The consultation period closed on 7 June. An analysis of the responses to the consultation will be published in the autumn. As my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Health (Mr John Hutton) said in the foreword to our consultation document, we anticipate that these proposals will improve the quality of care and will help to reassure patients and the public about the skills and competence of herbal medicine and acupuncture practitioners.

Lord McColl of Dulwich

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether medical practitioners will still be able to use the title "acupuncturist" in spite of the fact that the Department of Health does not favour dual regulation; and whether medical education for acupuncture will be the responsibility of the medical communities involved. [HL4184]

Lord Warner

We published proposals for the statutory regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture practitioners on 2 March. The consultation period closed on 7 June. An analysis of the responses to the consultation will be published in the autumn. The responses to the consultation will help us to develop the draft order establishing the new regulatory system for these practitioners.

We are aware of the interests of medical acupuncturists and will consider their representations very carefully together with the responses made to the consultation document commenting on the implications of our proposals for education and training.