Referral to Secondary Care

This commissioning policy is needed because alternative and complementary therapies are not routinely commissioned by NHS Vale of York CCG due to a paucity of information on clinical effectiveness.

All requests for such treatments must be made on the grounds of clinical exceptionality to the NHS Vale of York CCG Individual Funding Request Panel. The therapies covered by this policy include:

1. Alternative therapies (professionally organised)
   • Acupuncture
   • Chiropractic
   • Herbal medicine
   • Homeopathy
   • Osteopathy
   • Neutralising Antigens
     
2. Complementary therapies
   • Alexander Technique
   • Yoga
   • Pilates
   • Aromatherapy
   • Bach and other flower remedies
   • Massage
   • Meditation
   • Reflexology
   • Shiatsu
   • Healing Nutritional medicine
   • Hypnotherapy
     
3. Alternative disciplines
   • Anthroposophical medicine
   • Maharishi Ayurvedic medicine
   • Chinese herbal medicine
   • Eastern medicine
   • Naturopathy
   • Traditional Chinese medicine
     
4. Other alternative disciplines
   • Crystal therapy
   • Dowsing
   • Iridology
   • Kinesiology
   • Radionics and all other alternative and complementary therapies.

N.B. The alternative and complementary therapies/disciplines listed above are not exhaustive.

However, in certain circumstances some of the procedures are occasionally commissioned as part of a broader contract with a mainstream provider (for example specialist pain management, oncology, palliative care and musculoskeletal [MSK] services) in a multidisciplinary approach to symptom control.

On existing available evidence NHS Vale of York CCG would not commission referral outside the NHS for these services.

The IFR Panel will only consider cases where exceptionality has been demonstrated and will require robust scientific evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness of the therapy, supported by published, peer-reviewed trials; outcomes of conventional treatments tried; and assurance concerning the training and qualifications of the proposed provider practitioners.

To submit an application to the CCG's Individual Funding Request Panel, please click here for further information.

Please click here to view the full Alternative and Complementary Therapies Commissioning Statement.

Policy date: September 2016	Next Review date: September 2018
©NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group

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