Comments on: Are There Any Homeopathic Hospitals in the UK? http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2010/03/are-there-any-homeopathic-hospitals-in-the-uk.html Experiments and Thoughts on Quackery, Health Beliefs and Pseudoscience Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:47:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: A Letter to David Bellamy | The Quackometer http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2010/03/are-there-any-homeopathic-hospitals-in-the-uk.html#comment-15769 A Letter to David Bellamy | The Quackometer Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:31:23 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/blog/?p=1130#comment-15769 [...] since the formation of the NHS with it almost disappearing entirely in the ‘70s. There are not any real homeopathic hospitals left at all now – just a few small clinics clinging on. Tunbridge Wells homeopathic hospital closed [...] [...] since the formation of the NHS with it almost disappearing entirely in the ‘70s. There are not any real homeopathic hospitals left at all now – just a few small clinics clinging on. Tunbridge Wells homeopathic hospital closed [...]

]]> By: The GP Commissioning Consortium for Integrated Medicine | The Quackometer http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2010/03/are-there-any-homeopathic-hospitals-in-the-uk.html#comment-12416 The GP Commissioning Consortium for Integrated Medicine | The Quackometer Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:03:11 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/blog/?p=1130#comment-12416 [...] Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine find a lifeline in quack GP consortia? Will the remaining homeopathic hospitals in the UK look forward to a new world of mass public funding for them based on patient demand [...] [...] Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine find a lifeline in quack GP consortia? Will the remaining homeopathic hospitals in the UK look forward to a new world of mass public funding for them based on patient demand [...]

]]> By: Pete http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2010/03/are-there-any-homeopathic-hospitals-in-the-uk.html#comment-12185 Pete Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:37:40 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/blog/?p=1130#comment-12185 It saddens me that every year millions of pounds of taxpayers money (I'm a UK taxpayer by the way) goes to prop up these charlatans and frauds. Have we lost our bl**dy minds? Can't we sieze the opportunity during this time of austerity and budget cuts to strip this ridiculous expense away? It saddens me that every year millions of pounds of taxpayers money (I’m a UK taxpayer by the way) goes to prop up these charlatans and frauds. Have we lost our bl**dy minds?

Can’t we sieze the opportunity during this time of austerity and budget cuts to strip this ridiculous expense away?

]]> By: Why NHS Homeopathy Must End | The Quackometer http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2010/03/are-there-any-homeopathic-hospitals-in-the-uk.html#comment-11960 Why NHS Homeopathy Must End | The Quackometer Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:26:58 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/blog/?p=1130#comment-11960 [...] The homeopaths will no longer have their homeopathic hospitals to look towards, no matter how vestigial they are now, and they also do not have the direct support of Prince Charles and Foundation for [...] [...] The homeopaths will no longer have their homeopathic hospitals to look towards, no matter how vestigial they are now, and they also do not have the direct support of Prince Charles and Foundation for [...]

]]> By: Paige http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2010/03/are-there-any-homeopathic-hospitals-in-the-uk.html#comment-11946 Paige Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:40:25 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/blog/?p=1130#comment-11946 Have YOU tired it? Millions of people have and have received help for their aliments in last 250 years. Have YOU tired it? Millions of people have and have received help for their aliments in last 250 years.

]]> By: Fossilised Medicine | The Quackometer http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2010/03/are-there-any-homeopathic-hospitals-in-the-uk.html#comment-11897 Fossilised Medicine | The Quackometer Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:37:21 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/blog/?p=1130#comment-11897 [...] reminding us that it is quite possible to be prescribed fossil remedies on the NHS. The remnant, vestigial homeopathic hospitals are still funded by public money and this bizarre magic can be practiced and expensed to our taxes. [...] [...] reminding us that it is quite possible to be prescribed fossil remedies on the NHS. The remnant, vestigial homeopathic hospitals are still funded by public money and this bizarre magic can be practiced and expensed to our taxes. [...]

]]> By: Antares http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2010/03/are-there-any-homeopathic-hospitals-in-the-uk.html#comment-11138 Antares Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:36:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/blog/?p=1130#comment-11138 Yeah, thought about that, too... Seen so many fishy "clinics" and "institutes" here. I think "shop" or maybe "service something" would be more appropriate names. Yeah, thought about that, too… Seen so many fishy “clinics” and “institutes” here. I think “shop” or maybe “service something” would be more appropriate names.

]]> By: Zeno http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2010/03/are-there-any-homeopathic-hospitals-in-the-uk.html#comment-11137 Zeno Sun, 28 Mar 2010 14:03:20 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/blog/?p=1130#comment-11137 Even calling them 'clinics' gives them undeserved legitimacy. Any suggestions for a more appropriate word? Even calling them ‘clinics’ gives them undeserved legitimacy. Any suggestions for a more appropriate word?

]]> By: Liverpool NHS PCT Drops Supernatural Cancer Claims from Website | The Quackometer http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2010/03/are-there-any-homeopathic-hospitals-in-the-uk.html#comment-11085 Liverpool NHS PCT Drops Supernatural Cancer Claims from Website | The Quackometer Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:31:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/blog/?p=1130#comment-11085 [...] nice, but there may be other reasons. A simpler reason might be that the homeopathy clinic at the Old Swan Health Centre thought better of letting the world know what they get up to and thought it might be better to [...] [...] nice, but there may be other reasons. A simpler reason might be that the homeopathy clinic at the Old Swan Health Centre thought better of letting the world know what they get up to and thought it might be better to [...]

]]> By: Michael Power http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2010/03/are-there-any-homeopathic-hospitals-in-the-uk.html#comment-11082 Michael Power Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:06:10 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/blog/?p=1130#comment-11082 My curiosity about the promotion and use of iscador was provoked by your post and by my wife's reminder that we had a friend who travelled to Switzerland to be treated with it in the 70-s. So I did some googling to see how the NHS homeopathic hospitals use iscador to promote themselves. Liverpool As mentioned in the comments on your post "Liverpool NHS PCT Offering Quack Mysticism as Cancer Cure", the Royal Liverpool HH seems to have self-censored the website, which no longer mentions iscador. However, they haven't told CancerUK yet. (tiny.cc/pmbv0). London The "University College London Hospitals: Homeopathy - Complementary Cancer Care Programme" on its website (tiny.cc/xd07n) says about iscador: "This is a preparation of mistletoe, which enhances immune system responses." Bristol I couldn't find a website for the organization, but the Clouds Trust (tiny.cc/tbbd3) says that "The hospital also offers Iscador, which is a herbal preparation of mistletoe. It has been shown to stimulate the immune system and improve symptom control during chemotherapy, and other conventional treatments." Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital This does not have a website, but the Clouds Trust (tiny.cc/tbbd3) says: "As well as Homoeopathy, the hospital can offer Iscador therapy for some cancer patients". I was interested to learn that the Royal Glasgow Infirmary is procuring iscador on behalf of the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital. They seem to think that iscador is a homeopathic remedy. http://www.tendersdirect.co.uk/OurService/TenderView.aspx?ID=%20000000002691338&sect=H083&cat=27 (tinyURL couldn't digest this link ???) Tunbridge Wells This hospital has closed, but CancerHelp UK hasn't updated its "fact sheet". You have dealt with the issue about promoting iscador in the face of evidence that this is at best pointless. However, there is another issue about the propriety of an NHS organisation or charity advertising a particular product (and using the trade name as a generic) on its website. I am sure Big Pharma would love to be able to do this, but, I haven't seen it. My curiosity about the promotion and use of iscador was provoked by your post and by my wife’s reminder that we had a friend who travelled to Switzerland to be treated with it in the 70-s. So I did some googling to see how the NHS homeopathic hospitals use iscador to promote themselves.

Liverpool
As mentioned in the comments on your post “Liverpool NHS PCT Offering Quack Mysticism as Cancer Cure”, the Royal Liverpool HH seems to have self-censored the website, which no longer mentions iscador. However, they haven’t told CancerUK yet. (tiny.cc/pmbv0).

London
The “University College London Hospitals: Homeopathy – Complementary Cancer Care Programme” on its website (tiny.cc/xd07n) says about iscador:

“This is a preparation of mistletoe, which enhances immune system responses.”

Bristol
I couldn’t find a website for the organization, but the Clouds Trust (tiny.cc/tbbd3) says that “The hospital also offers Iscador, which is a herbal preparation of mistletoe. It has been shown to stimulate the immune system and improve symptom control during chemotherapy, and other conventional treatments.”

Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital
This does not have a website, but the Clouds Trust (tiny.cc/tbbd3) says: “As well as Homoeopathy, the hospital can offer Iscador therapy for some cancer patients”.

I was interested to learn that the Royal Glasgow Infirmary is procuring iscador on behalf of the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital. They seem to think that iscador is a homeopathic remedy.

http://www.tendersdirect.co.uk/OurService/TenderView.aspx?ID=%20000000002691338&sect=H083&cat=27

(tinyURL couldn’t digest this link ???)

Tunbridge Wells
This hospital has closed, but CancerHelp UK hasn’t updated its “fact sheet”.

You have dealt with the issue about promoting iscador in the face of evidence that this is at best pointless.

However, there is another issue about the propriety of an NHS organisation or charity advertising a particular product (and using the trade name as a generic) on its website. I am sure Big Pharma would love to be able to do this, but, I haven’t seen it.

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