News

Back pain is the biggest cause of absenteeism in the UK yet one in three GPs is not able to offer patients the full treatments recommended by the NICE (the National Institution for Clinical Excellence). A survey of GPs by the College of Medicine today reveals that, despite acupuncture, massage and manipulation being recommended in more serious cases, 32 per cent had not actioned them. Yet guidelines have been in effect nearly 2 years.

College of Medicine Chair, Dr Michael Dixon who will announce the full survey results at the College of Medicine's Annual Conference in London on Thursday said: "Back pain affects seven out of ten people in middle age - that is, between the ages of 35 and 50 - when we are at our most industrious. Absenteeism costs this country millions if not billions every year. By employing accredited techniques, GPs could help reduce these statistics and that is vital, particularly at a time when the nation itself is on its knees because of the financial crisis."

The Conference will hear that a natural reluctance to integrate accredited complementary medicines, both at grassroots and higher levels, is limiting the success of patient care. "What is needed," Dr Dixon added, "Is a new paradigm. We keep being told that it's the management systems that need an overhaul. They certainly play their part, but what's really needed is a health service where prevention is as important, if not more important, than cure."

Nine out of ten patients questioned (87 per cent) in the College of Medicine survey said they would like to receive accredited complementary care free as part of their GP service.

Ends

The survey for the college of Medicine was carried out by the pollsters, Opinion Health.

http://opinionhealth.co.uk/

Office of National Statistics, Sickness Absence in the Labour Market, http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1577

NICE Guidelines on back pain: http://www.nice.org.uk/CG88

PRESS CONTACTS FOR CONFERENCE/INTERVIEWS

Jo Sawicki, 07715 000691 and Shyama Perera 07971 879 598