New GP study set to reignite over NHS funds for homoeopathy
Homoeopathy 'works for a range of GP cases'
by Daniel Cressey

Dr Tim Robinson, a GP in Beaminster, Dorset, claims to have proved homoeopathy is of real benefits to patients. He found it was effective in general practice for a wide range of conditions, with three-quarters of patients reporting a positive response. Homoeopathy can successfully treat a wide range of common conditions in general practice, a new GP study concludes. The research will fuel the debate over whether NHS funds should be used to provide a service many view as quackery. Study leader Dr Tin Robinson, a GP in Beaminster, Dorset, claimed he had proven homoeopathy was effective in a vari- ety of clinical areas. including ENf, dermatology and obs and gynae.

His research, published in Homoeopathy January), assessed 489 homoeopathic consulta tions at his practice over the course of a year. Some 78 per cent of patients reported a positive clinical re- sponse, just 19 per cent failed to respond and 3 per cent said the treatment had affected them negatively.

		Dr Robinson, who is a lecturer in homoeopathy at the Bristol Homoeopathic Hospital, insisted the results were mirrored by a larger national study being prepared for publication. He told Pulse: 'Homoeopathy certainly offers an alternative for many conditions we see in general practice. It's safe, it's cheap, it's a form of treatment for conditions that can't be treated conventionally. This is something you can offer in a 10- minute consultation.'   Nine per cent of Dr Robinson's 10-minute consultations now use homoeopathy. His research drew a mixed re-sponse from GPs. Dr Tanvir Jamil, a GP in Burnham, Buckinghamshire, who refers patients for homoeopathy, said: 'This is fantastic, this is a real positive thing. We have to use this as a stepping stone to further research. They're pretty impressive figures but the only true way of looking at this is a double-blind controlled study.'   But other GPs were far less convinced. Dr Greg Place, a GP in Annesley Woodhouse and chair of Nottingham LMC, said: 'I have been a sceptic all my life with homoeopathy. I haven't seen a patient who has benefited.' Dr Hua-Lon tiu, a GPSI in ENT, said: 'A lot of ENT conditions get better on their own. I would probably be quite scepti cal of homoeopathy but if patients want to try I wouldn't stop them.'
Dr Robinson: homoeopathy treats conditions conventional methods can't