to think that our new SureStart centre shouldn't flog homeopathy?

[Elpis]

Among the stay and play and breastfeeding sessions is a three-hour weekly "homeopathy clinic" at which a local homeopathist will advise you on "treating" all sorts of childhood ailments. Now, I am very open-minded about many forms of alternative medicine - I have regular acupuncture sessions that I find extremely beneficial, and I think herbal medicine has a lot to offer - but why is homeopathy being promoted by a state-funded, state-run centre? It's not even as though the placebo effect will work on babies.

I have to say that Childrens Centres are there to provide community services that are accessible. The services provided should reflect what the community want to see there. Although it is not a 'medical centre' other health professionals are based in many to run clinics, parenting courses, baby massage etc. Therefore, usually before these services are commissioned there has normally been some discussions about what local people want and need. I would hope that this was the case otherwise it defies the intention of the centres.

wasn't going to pile in, others have done a great job - but then was tempted to take a quick peek at DeirdreB's link to selection of papers - fascinated to read in that h-pathy practised in 41 out of 42 countries - anyone know which country has shunned homeopathy ?? Is it illegal there? if not, why the antipathy to treating illness with [resisting temptation to make a wise crack] homeopathy ?

agree with thecaptaincrocfamily

If you are nuts enough to check it out the paper is here www.homeopathy-ecch.org/images/stories/pdf/legal%20situation%20for%20homeopathic%20practice%2 0in%20europe.pdf

I can't see where they get a 41/42 stat from that data - but I guess that's quel surprise.

YANBU

homeopathy is a rip off. Are people paying for this clinic OP, or is the public purse paying? Perhaps the manager of the centre needs to read Bad Science?!

"Perhaps the manager of the centre needs to read Bad Science?! "
I'd give them my copy

Utterly ridiculous and unacceptable to use state funds on unfounded stuff like this.

homeopathy in a&e

I'll have a non homoepathic V+C thaks

thanks even LOL (hic)

Loved the Utube link!!

Who here has felt better simply because they have made a doctor's appointment?

Who here has given a bumped knee a kiss better?

The placebo effect is very well documented.

not using wiki as sourse, rather as source of sources

it's better documented than homeopathy itself.

If you give someone a homeopathic remedy and DON'T TELL THEM, nothing happens.

I'd be very concerned about this - sounds very unethical!

SureStart centres are supposed to be places where parents can get advice from professionals. If the homeopathy place is offering medical advice, it will quite possibly stop people getting genuine medical advice for their children when they need it. It lends credibility to something that is basically faith healing.

I love the homeopath propaganda that "well, it works on pets and babies so IT MUST BE TRUE!". Yeah, and the parent/homeopath/pet owner gauging the response on the pet/baby of the homeopathy that they chose to give them is of course totally bias free. And Nature never heals things on its own, it MUST have been the sugar pills that did it.

I feel the same about homeopathy as I do about religion - not for me, but it's up to others what they believe in.

However I'd be equally against a druid or priest setting up in a children's centre and offering exorcisms or cleansing auras.

YANBU, if people want to use homeopathy, they are free to do so but I don't think it is appropriate for a sure start centre to be promoting it.

The argument for having homeopathy on the NHS is that it saves money because people see a homeopath and don't waste the time of the GP.

I find it worrying if the government are targeting mothers of young children. It smacks of the attitude that women make a load of fuss over nothing, and there is nothing wrong with their children, so we will just fob them off. That attitude has been around longer than homeopathy.

It's not right to be officially encouraging Homoeopathy because that there is simply no such thing. It's a known scam for selling fake cures.

If someone 'gets better' after treatment it's because they were imagining their illness in the first place. In that sense it saves GPs time I suppose.

I am shocked. I never knew people thought like this about homeopathy.

Why couldn't you have guessed? people don't like being lied to!

not exactly safe for those mothers taking infants with ige allergies, for a 'cure', quite a few people get food intolerance and ige allergies mixed up.

these children need to go to doctors, not unqualified people, who may have some form of dietary training, but are not medical people. they often give dietary advise, which can end up with life time consequenes, e.g rikets.

i have heard of nhs baby clinics letting in vega machine clinics in.........which had been proved to be a total con, many times.

the idea of such treatment or our children, is totally appalling.

this is our childrens health, and we are handing over to completely unqualified people.

this HAS to be stopped.