Client Services
Advisory services to clients on issues to do with Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Market research suggests that there could between 20,000 to 40,000 therapists, within the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine ( CAM), working part time or full time in the UK.
These include Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Herbalists, Homoeopaths, Nutritionists, Acupuncturists, Ayurveda practitioners, Healers, Reiki Practitioners, and a large number of Bodywork Practitioners such as Yoga, Pilates, Alexander Technique and so on. The industry also includes primarily psychological therapies such as NLP, Meditation, Energy and Healing Therapists, Transpersonal Psychotherapists among others.
People visit therapists for a number of reasons. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ‘Candidiasis’, joint pains and arthritis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, allergies, asthma, eczema, migraines, insomnia, sports injuries, behavioural problems in children, stress, anxiety and depression being some of them.
As a general rule patients do not involve their GP in decisions to see a Complementary Therapist, and GPs, for their part, tend to avoid discussions about the matter, among other reasons as their insurance does not cover areas outside the medical mainstream.
Where I fit in
In fact it is extremely hard for the average patient to get the advice of an orthodox doctor sufficiently knowledgeable about Therapists and Therapies.
Please see the section on my website called ‘Lorenzo’s Medical Library’ www.soulace.co.uk and also the Lecture on Medicine 2009 (video) to get a sense of where I’m coming from.
My advisory practice seeks to address this need.
A typical scenario that I expect to deal with is a conversation like this:
‘Doctor, I have suffered digestive problems for two years now. I’ve been to see my GP several times and he’s tried various medications. I’ve also seen a hospital consultant about it. The problem hasn’t gone away and over the last few months I’m plagued by recurrent headaches, I feel tired all the time, and this is impacting on my life.
I’ve been to see a Chinese Medicine practitioner and also a homoeopath. This is costing me a lot of money and I don’t have much. I do feel that Complementary Medicine can help me but I need advice on where I go from here.’
How I work
I take a detailed case history, not only of the symptoms and issues but also of the person’s journey though the NHS and Complementary Therapy Sector.
Please note that I do not claim to have miracle cures or miracle solutions.
My job is to use my experience, knowledge and intuition to process problems and issues, and help the client make more informed choices of options available and suggest ways forward.
No two clients are the same and my analysis and suggestions will depend on how the consultation flows and the physical, social, psychological and monetary factors in the client’s life.
Over the course of 30 years of working as a doctor on the coal face of practical medicine both in the hospital and general practice sectors, I have had in the region of 150,000 patient contacts. This is where my skills come from.
Telephone and Skype Consultations
As I do not need to physically examine a patient, I do not need to see them face to face. So telephone and Skype consultations save a huge amount of time as there is no travel involved.
My Consultation – This has two parts:
The first part is to ascertain all the relevant information. As a GP one’s skills lie in being able to quickly tune in to the relevant physical, emotional, psychological and social aspects relating to the issues at hand. So in this part expect the consultation to go pretty much as you would expect a telephone consultation to your own GP to go.
The consultation should last not more than 45 minutes by which time we should be able to mutually establish the facts of the case and the actual questions involved.
The second part is quite different, as this may need me to mull over the matter.
The field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine is both a vast field and is not an exact science. Intuition and judgement will play a part and this may need a second consultation.
Note for UK clients
Based on my experience so far, a sizeable percentage of my clients seeking advice on Complementary Therapies have not had the benefit of good conventional care.
UK GPs are probably the best in the world ( they certainly are the most highly trained) at what they do, however the pressure on GP services and individual GPs, within the context of current NHS regulations, is such that person to person time is squeezed.
This is unhelpful to patients with complex problems and needs who find it difficult to see the same doctor again and again. The needs of different client groups are different .For example, a family with young children are better off registered with a large practice with good parking facilities, open from very early to very late , where they can see a GP ( any GP) easily. Elderly people on multiple medications and people with complex issues and long term needs, are better off, registered with small practices where they can see the same doctor again and again even if they have to wait longer. Part of my work is advising my clients on issues like these.
Legal Notice.
Dear Prospective client. Please read this section carefully before seeking my help. Because I deal with matters outside conventional medicine and cannot be insured as a doctor for this type of work, based on legal advice, I have had my name removed from the UK General Medical Council Register. This means I cannot practice as a conventional doctor, prescribe medications or make NHS referrals.
My legal status is that of a retired GP .
If you do seek my help on a medical matter, please note that any assessment or advice is my personal assessment and advice. It is your responsibility of how you choose to act on it. You are perfectly at liberty to record any conversation you have with me, and share this with your normal medical attendant if you so choose. If you have any issues with anything I have said under legal notice or any queries please bring this up with me and I will be delighted to answer any questions. The service I offer is advisory and does not amount to treating you or being responsible for your medical issues.