Private General Practice Services

"The thinking mind is strong, add creativity and your world becomes empowered."

In recent years, the case for integrating alternative therapies into mainstream medicine has gained momentum with supporters like PGPS firmly backing this development. Dr Piper believes that mainstream medicine can work to advise concerning the strengths and weaknesses of alternative therapies in exactly the same way as it does for orthodox medicine. She does, however, believe that a diagnosis MUST be made before treatments begin and that serious illnesses should be excluded. Unfortunately, otherwise, any treatment might mask an underlying problem which could worsen with occasionally tragic consequences.

Private General Practice Services (PGPS), situated in Stoneygate, is the largest Private GP Practice in Leicestershire. Thanks to its successful application of Integrated Medicine, combining the excellence of traditional evidence based medicine with the creativity of alternative therapy and also occupational medicine, this practice is leading the way in healthcare.

Whilst much is known about the importance of traditional medicine and the evidence for its continued use, far less is known about alternative (complimentary) therapies. 25 years ago, they were considered unorthodox, but today they are very much more accepted and openly practised. Research shows that 90% of us use them in one form or another, and we know that when correctly and safely administered by open-minded and trained professionals, how beneficial they can be for body, mind and spirit.

So what are alternative therapies? The "big five" are osteopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture , homeopathy and herbal medicine. Others including: hypnotherapy, reiki, neurolinguistic programming (NLP), reflexology, aromatherapy and massage also play their part.

While up to 50% of NHS practices have some access to Complimentary care, mostly they are not easy to access via your family doctor. So in November 2005, Dr Julia Piper decided to join 120 GPs from across the UK, who gathered in support of a unique new scheme for GPs devised by The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, called The Foundation's GP Associates. The inaugural conference, held at St. James's Palace, launched the Foundation's GP Associates, and was a unique endorsement by GPs of the development of integrated healthcare now and in the future. It is hoped that this organisation will influence a greater availability of Alternative Therapies via the NHS.

Prince Charles addressed the event, which was also attended by the Hon Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland, Caroline Flint, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health, and a delegation of eminent physicians.

Christopher Smallwood , (former chief economic advisor to Barclays PLC and current Director of Lombard Street Associates), commissioned by HRH The Prince of Wales to research The Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the NHS reported that alternative therapies could effectively fill NHS gaps in the treatment of muscular and skeletal disorders, lower back pain, migraine, stroke rehabilitation, osteoarthritis of the knee, viral infections and the common cold, Altzheimer's disease and dementia, benignly enlarged prostate, chronic and complex conditions, anxiety, depression, eczema, rhinitis, IBS, and persistent fatigue.

The practice is able to offer the following Integrated Therapies / Alternative Treatments:

• Acupuncture
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ('CBT')
• Hypnotherapy
• Massage
• Nutrition and Dietetic Advice
• Neuro-Linguistic Programming
• Reiki