Provision of Medical Acupuncture Service in General Practice under Practice-Based Commissioning

Abstract

Acupuncture involves inserting small needles into various points in the body; the needles are normally stimulated by manual rotation or electrically. Western acupuncture uses the same needling technique as traditional Chinese acupuncture but is based on affecting nerve impulses and the central nervous system. A Western medical acupuncturist makes a medical clinical diagnosis in the conventional way, and uses acupuncture as a form of analgesia along with other drugs and other appropriate interventions, including surgery. Myofascial pain is an extremely common presenting complaint, and general practitioners (GPs) are normally the first point of contact. Studies have indicated that acupuncture helps in different musculoskeletal pain1,–,3 and migraine,4 and NICE has recommended the use of acupuncture in the management of low back pain. Acupuncture may be most effective in primary care to treat patients early and prevent deterioration in the patients' condition while on a waiting list. Charlton medical practice started to provide Western medical acupuncture for NHS patients registered with the practice in November 2008. The practice is situated in Telford, West Midlands with about 10 600 registered patients. Pain management is taken very seriously in our …