The recent lecture day organised by the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) examining. The Role of Complementary Therapy (CT) in Cancer and Palliative Care proved a resounding success, attracting over a hundred highly specialised delegates. The event, held at the Royal College of Surgeons earlier this month, provided a comprehensive series of lectures, examining the current role of Complementary Therapy and speculating how this could be given more credibility in the future. In total the day took in six lectures, providing delegates with a broad understanding of the subject and practical advice on raising the profile of Complementary Therapy in cancer and palliative care.

Michael Fox, from The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, started the day by examining the role of CT and outlining the Foundation's strategy aimed at integrating Complementary approaches with conventional healthcare. He comments: - "Over the last 5 - 6 years CT has moved into the mainstream, so that integrating conventional and complementary healthcare is no longer viewed as unusual. However, with this acceptance comes greater responsibility for practitioners, individuals must ensure they are competent in their practice, and keep up to date. Organisations like the FHT have a crucial role in helping to ensure this happens"
This was supported by the view of the FHT, who feel that although a great deal of progress has been made, it will now take a concerted effort for CT to be treated with the respect it deserves.

Celia Manson, Nurse Advisor to the RCN discussed the Nursing Associations' attitude to Holistic Healthcare. Nurses commonly incorporate Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Massage into the practice, with some also offering Reiki, Acupuncture, and Homeopathy. However, there was some debate as to whether the "Cascade Training" prominent within the NHS was sufficient in equipping nurses to be qualified and effective therapists. In addition, as resources are already so strained within the NHS, is it reasonable to expect them to provide Complementary Therapy as part of the standard healthcare mix? Celia asserted that the role of CT within the NHS was well accepted amongst nurses, concluding with the belief that "CT must continue to develop and is here to stay".

Peter Tebbitt, a policy consultant for the National   Council   for   Palliative Care, provided the delegates with an illuminating examination of the NICE Guidance, which serves as a blueprint for the NHS in dealing with Supportive and Palliative Care. Although this guidance report does pay some reference to CT it stops short of recommending that funding be provided to develop it as a service integral to a patient's treatment. CT is viewed as optional. These decisions were based on the comparative lack of strong evidence for the effectiveness of CT. Although the body of evidence now available is considerable, this was not the case when the guidelines were put together a few years ago.

Peter asserted that this lack of evidence has contributed to a huge gap in understanding, where senior managers and policy makers cannot quantify the positive benefits of CT. This has resulted in CT being viewed as an "ideal" service, not an essential. Until the policy makers have been convinced as to the merits of CT, funding is not likely to be forthcoming directly from the NHS.

Peter left the delegates with one positive point for contemplation. Up until ten years ago palliative care was not recognised as being part of mainstream healthcare in this country. Over previous decades palliative care had been delivered by voluntary care organisations, and it was only the demonstration of the benefits it produced which led to the Government reorganising the Cancer Service and recognising that palliative care was very important and should definitely be part of NHS provision.

Research was the focus for the penultimate lecture of the day. Standing in for Professor Andrew Long, Peter Mackareth gave valuable pointers to the delegates so they could work on their own research projects in order to influence change. Stressing the importance of building the treatments around the capabilities of the patient, Peter highlighted a number of projects on which both he and Professor Long had worked and which add weight to the case for CT as an integrated part of healthcare provision.

This presentation was reinforced by evidence highlighted by another speaker, Eileen Mullard from the University of Leeds, again a prominent exponent of the role of CT within cancer and palliative care. Eileen mentioned a project which concluded that natural killer cells and lymphocytes increase in women with breast cancer following massage therapy. Eileen also proved an inspiration to delegates as she works closely with one of the UK's largest cancer charities, MacMillan Nurses who recognise the value of CT and have developed a policy on the provision of such therapies in the future.

In his own talk, Peter Mackareth, clinical lead and lecturer for Complementary Therapies at Christie Hospital NHS Trust, is contributing to research evidence through clinical research. Over the past 4 years he has worked with patients and carers at the prestigious cancer treatment centre in Manchester. The Hospital, which deals with a staggering 5,000 inpatients and 67,000 outpatients, has a commendable policy regarding Complementary Therapy, employing a team of 26 to provide a wide range of treatments to patients and carers. During his time at Christie, Peter has become expert in the value of CT defining individual symptoms which treatments such as Aromatherapy and Massage can relieve. Not only do patients commonly find the relaxation provided by these treatments can result in the relief of constipation and poor sleep but they can also have a profound effect on the stress levels of the patients.

The lecture day brought together two distinct groups of people, nurses who administer holistic therapies as part of their nursing duties, and therapists who work alongside established healthcare providers. With the issues of Complementary Therapy pertinent to both, the day served to unite all attendees with one common goal. The delegates provided much hope for the future; some currently managing teams of ten and above in bringing Complementary Therapy to those for whom it can make a real difference. With patients being at the heart of everything they do, most delegates felt that the needs of the patients would be the key factor in driving change, it was the therapists' and nurses' role to harness the sentiments of the patients in order to offer their treatments to all who needed them.

Reproduced with the kind permission of Today's Therapist