Information for GPs
Central London NHS Acupuncture Clinic
Central London Acupuncture Clinic has sadly been defunded, but we hope that we will be able to find future funding.
The clinic continues to accept referrals for self-funded treatment.
A service evaluation report of the 2 year pilot service is being written up. Preliminary data for clinical outcomes can be found below.
If you referred patients to the SWPCN Acupuncture clinic, please take a moment to respond to the GP survey. It is very important to have your experience recorded together with the clinical outcomes data.
Acupuncture treatment effectiveness and quality of care
Clinical Outcomes – Preliminary Data – Acupuncture Clinic
How To Refer (Self Funded Appointments)
The Acupuncture Clinic continues as a private service at Kings College NHS Health Centre, and patients can be referred for self funded treatment. We will be looking for funding for both bursaries for patients unable to self-fund, and for future continuation of the NHS funded clinic.
In the meantime, you can refer or signpost to acupuncture as follows:
- Within Systm1, send a task to the practitioner.
- Patients can self refer, or
- you can refer the patient directly to the clinic.
All patients seeking a bursary or low cost appointment should be referred directly by their GP.
If you wish to be kept updated about the treatment progress of your patient, don’t forget to share your contact details with the practitioner. There is no limit to the length of time that self-funded treatment can be offered, although bursaries may be limited in length.
Who Can Be Referred
- All patients, including pregnant and childen, can safely attend acupuncture treatment
- Children must attend with a guardian
- Note that treatment is self-funded
EXCLUSIONS
- Clinically unstable patients
- Mentally unstable patients
Signposting: Low Cost & Community Acupuncture
Patients can find a list of low cost clinics here. Most of these are community acupuncture clinics or teaching clinics, all run by qualified practitioners who are members of the relevant professional bodies.
Conditions that can be treated by acupuncture
PAIN OF ANY KIND
- e.g. MSK, cancer pain, neuro migraines, headaches, Menstrual pain
- Back, shoulder, neck pain, Sports injuries, sciatica
- Arthritis; IBS, fibromyalgia
MENTAL HEALTH
- e.g. insomnia, palpitations, panic attacks
- anxiety, depression
ADDICTIONS
- food, alcohol, tobacco, drugs
- addictive behaviours like gambling
“ODD” PROBLEMS
- No clear cause, yet problem persists
- Poor treatment options or polypharmacy
GP Acupuncture Feedback
Your response will only take a few minutes and is much appreciated
Additional Information
If the patient has been referred to clinic directly by the GP or other health professional, we will contact them and offer an appointment when one is available.
If patient has self-referred, they will be offered an appointment.
If you wish to be kept updated about your patient’s progress, make sure that you have provided contact details with your referral.
- When test results are inconclusive, no cause can be found but symptoms persist.
- When treatment options are poor or there are none.
- When the patient wishes to explore non-chemical and/or non-invasive treatment options.
- Alongside Western medical treatment for serious conditions, such as cancer.
- When nothing further can be done for the patient within Western Medicine.
See also here for a list of some Western named conditions, which have recently been reviewed for effectiveness of acupuncture treatment.
Is the condition acute, or chronic? Acupuncture is equally effective with both, but it is important to understand that when treating chronic condition, improvement may take some considerable time. Is the patient prepared to stick to treatment, and with the treatment being self funded, do they have resources to continue two-weekly sessions for some time?
There are no side effects – safe
Acupuncture is perfectly safe and beneficial to be used alongside Western medical treatment.
Please note that patients will never be given advice regarding their prescriptions or Western medical treatment options, for or against, that is a matter for their GP or consultant to discuss.
Acupuncture can greatly improve a patient’s health, well-being and mood when faced with serious and life-threatening conditions, and it can be useful to alleviate side-effects of Western medicine treatment, such as chemotherapy.
Acupuncture, however, should never be used as a first line of treatment in these situations, but only ever as an adjunct therapy. This is very important for the patient to understand: Acupuncture cannot effectively treat cancer.
