The Liverpool Centre for Complementary Medicine is a project which has as one of its main aims the provision of easier access to Complementary Health Care for the people of Liverpool, especially those in deprived areas.

The Liverpool Centre for Complementary Medicine has grown out of, but is separate from, The Liverpool Centre for Health, which is based at Netherfield Road Clinic in Everton. The Liverpool Centre for Health has provided Complementary Health Care (homeopathy, acupuncture, osteopathy, remedial massage and, until recently, counselling) on the NHS to the people of Everton, via their General Practitioners, since September 1993. It began as a pilot project, which was deliberately set up in an area of deprivation where it was felt that there was a need for Complementary Health Care but where it was unlikely that the population would be able to pay for private treatment. When the pilot project began it was envisaged that, should the project be successful, the clinic would be extended and satellite clinics would be opened in other areas of Liverpool.

The Liverpool Centre for Health has been well used in the intervening nine years. It was hoped that it would be the subject of a major research study but unfortunately this did not materialise. However, a small survey of patients made during the first year indicated that the patients were happy with the service and that it had improved their quality of life. A small subsequent study by one of the therapists, verbal feedback from the patients and continuing GP referrals seem to indicate that the service is successful. Unfortunately, further funding from the NHS has not been available and so the service remains at its original size of six hours per week of each therapy and is still limited to the patients of GP’s in the Everton area.

The therapists working within The Liverpool Centre for Health have long felt frustration that the service has never developed so that Complementary Health Care could be available to more people, not just in Everton, but throughout the city. Indeed the waiting lists indicate that there is work for a larger service even within the original target area. It was felt that in an ideal world the best solution would be to expand and develop The Liverpool Centre for Health within the NHS especially as the government has expressed its intention to develop Complementary Health Care within the NHS. However, after many discussions, it was decided that, if it was not possible to expand the service within the current NHS due to financial constraints, then other options should be investigated. It was at this point that the idea of becoming a charity was first put forward.

In August 2001 the first meeting of the proposed Liverpool Centre for Complementary Medicine was held. Those participating were therapists at The Liverpool Centre for Health and some of the administrative staff. There have been regular meetings over the past year as the ideas for the project were discussed and developed. The aim has always been to provide a service for the NHS, as far as is possible, rather than providing an alternative to services within the NHS.

It was originally considered that the best option would be, having first registered as a charity, to purchase a large building and then raise money to run it as a Complementary Therapy Clinic. However, it was eventually decided that, as this would require a major capital outlay, it would be better to aim to provide clinics within community centres, which would take Complementary Medicine to the people. It was originally proposed that we aim to provide a free Complementary Health Care service funded by charitable donations but it is recognised that we may have to ask for small donations from the patients to enable the service to function. No definite decision has been made on this point and it will largely depend on financial circumstances once the project is up and running.

As well as;

 a) Providing greater access to Complementary Health Care for the people of Liverpool, our other aims now include:

b) Providing good quality information on Complementary Health Care to Primary Health Care teams and to the community

c) Developing the education about and advancing the practice of Complementary Medicine

d) Working with other health care services to increase the range of health options available to the community

e) Informing the decision making process about the prospective development of Complementary Medicine within the NHS.

Liverpool Centre for Complementary Medicine now has an Executive Committee, which has adopted a Constitution, after several drafts, and has prepared an Application for Registration as a Charity, which will be sent to the Charity Commission as soon as suitable Trustees have been appointed.

Liverpool Centre for Complementary Medicine is in its early infancy. It is recognised that the project is an ambitious one and one that will take time and effort to achieve.

If you would like more information on Liverpool Centre for Complementary Medicine, please contact Christina Parsons

Tel No: 0151 709 6639 (Monday and Tuesday), 0151 207 3263 (Wednesday Morning), 01538 388176 (Thursday and Friday Morning)