Foundation for Integrated Health offers new opportunities for patients and practitioners

An exciting new direction for the Foundation for Integrated Health was outlined by medical director Dr Michael Dixon.

‘Integrated health is no longer a backwater nor a pressure group for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, but a key ingredient of a successful NHS,’ Dr Dixon told the audience at the Foundation’s first annual conference.

Clinical leadership was ‘crucial’ for the organisation, Dr Dixon said. The Foundation is ‘changing direction’ to become led by health professionals, he explained.

A group of 17Fellows has been created: ‘Distinguished people from the health service, each of them doing their bit to further the cause of integrated health.’

The Fellows include GPs, nurses, medical consultants, surgeons, specialists in public health, academic doctors and other experts.

In addition, six membership groups were being set up for different professions:

• General Practitioners
• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Physiotherapists
• Regulated complementary practitioners
• A joint complementary and medical student network

GP surgeries will also be invited to join a new practice accreditation scheme.

It ‘will encourage GP practices that are providing an integrated service to be identified with the Foundation’.

The scheme will help patients find a practice that offers integrated healthcare. ‘Increasingly practices will want Foundation for Integrated Health membership,’ said Dr Dixon. So patients can see what is offered, and make their own choice accordingly.

Practices will have to show all GP partners are committed to providing holistic personal care that respects the patient’s history, culture and choices. At least one complementary therapy should be available and the practice must provide an integrated approach to healthcare, including evidence of at least one successful self-help or health improvement scheme it has created.

The Foundation is also planning to launch a College of Integrated Practitioners, Dr Dixon announced. It will have a mission to develop high standards of care for professional practice in integrated health. The College will give professionals an opportunity to work on: ‘evaluation, clinical standards and increased information for patients and clinicians developing models for service integration’.

Its role will cover education, continuing professional development, kite marking good practice and promoting the development of integrated services, he said. Finally, Dr Dixon added, ‘we are an ambitious organisation that will stop at nothing to improve healthcare and health.’