NHS Lothian has announced that, following a major consultation process, it is to "move away" from providing homeopathic services – including sending patients to Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital.

The decision follows a survey, conducted for the health board, which found 72% of respondents did not want NHS Lothian to pay for this controversial form of care.

Homeopathy is a branch of alternative medicine based on the use of highly diluted substances that practitioners claim can cause the body to heal itself.

However, John Cook, chairman of the British Homeopathic Association, said shutting the NHS Lothian service would not save money. He said: "Concerns have already been expressed by NHS Lothian itself that withdrawing funding for homeopathy will result in an increase in GP appointments, referrals to secondary care services and prescribing costs for conventional medicine."

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This entry was posted on 04 November 2013 at 10:00 and is filed under Homeopathy | Health.