Government plans to regulate voluntary and private healthcare

A recent Government consultation document has recommended proposals to dramatically extend protection for patients in the private sector. It has invited comments on whether these proposals should be extended to the complementary medicine sector. The provision include the creation of a new regulatory body, quality assurance mechanisms and a new complaints system. The lack of coherence within complementary medicine means that there has been very little consultation with therapists or their professional bodies. This article outlines the main proposals and calls for the creation of a pan-professional organization to assume trade union functions to ensure that in future complementary therapists gain a political voice over matters which directly affect their practice.