Prince Charles set to talk alternative treatments with GPs

Oct 12, 2005, 14:03 GMT

Britain's Prince Charles will today tell GPs they can play a major role in offering alternative treatments to patients.

The Prince of Wales will be launching a new group in Britain, made up of doctors who believe complementary medicine can make a big difference to people's health.

The group, GP Associates, was devised by the Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Heath.

More than 120 GPs from across the UK will gather at St James's Palace, London, to support the launch of the new integrated health body.

Last week, a study commissioned by the prince, called for complementary therapies to be much more freely available on the NHS and suggested this could lead to widespread benefits for the nation's health and the wider economy.

The report found that following a pilot where patients were treated with complementary and alternative medicines there was a 30% drop in the number of consultations with GPs and a saving in the prescription drugs bills of 50%.

According to the foundation, half of GPs now make complementary treatments available to their patients.

The prince will also reopen the Royal London Homeopathic hospital in Great Ormond Street, London, which has undergone a £20m redevelopment.

Founded 150 years ago, it is Europe's largest public sector hospital offering alternative medicine alongside conventional medicine.

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