NOW PRINCE000 CHARLES SETS UP ‘ROYAL NHS’
‘Wellbeing’ centre to help struggling GPs and hospitals
PRINCE Charles is creating his own ‘Royal Health Service’ to help out the struggling NHS.
The heir to the throne – who has repeatedly called for doctors to adopt a more ‘holistic’ approach – has set up a health and wellbeing centre for patients battling cancer, obesity and other common health problems.
Patients are referred by their GP and offered a range of fitness programmes, education sessions and complementary therapies.
The initiative is based at Dumfries House, a stately home near Cumnock, Ayrshire, that Charles saved for the nation ten years ago. Since 2007, the house and grounds have been run as a tourist attraction and community resource.
But the prince has also used it to promote his
ideas for a better society. From championing traditional craftsmanship to the preservation of rare animal breeds, the Dumfries House project has been driven by his personal intervention and distinctive passions.
Now we can reveal Prince Charles, who is known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, has launched his boldest venture yet, in a bid to take pressure off the ailing NHS. He is building the state-ofthe-art centre in the grounds, complete with a gym, spin bike studio and various treatment rooms.
He has employed health and wellbeing co-ordinators who have already started to run menopause groups for women which mix ‘education, exercise and therapy’.
They also offer activity and education sessions to tackle diabetes, obesity and cancer, as well as mental health and addiction support groups. They even host tea-dances to help pensioners combat the loneliness of old age.
Later this year, the estate will host its first ever women’s health conference in conjunction with the College of Medicine health charity, at which delegates will discuss an ‘integrated approach’ to women’s health and learn about homeopathy, acupuncture, reflexology and mindfulness.
Dumfries House deputy executive director Kenneth Dunsmuir told The Scottish Mail On Sunday: ‘Our new health and wellbeing centre will support local GPs and provide services that people need.
‘His Royal Highness has made the point that at different times, different things affect people’s health. He wants to find out what local GPs and local people need and provide that. It is about providing additional things that the NHS may not offer.’
Mr Dunsmuir added: ‘The whole estate is a realisation of the prince’s vision. There are so many different things he champions and here he can make them happen.
‘His Royal Highness wanted to save the house and its unique contents but he also knew the project would be a tool for change.’
Patients who are referred to Dumfries House do not have to pay for the service, nor is there a charge to the health board.
Currently, patients are only referred by local GPs, but as the service becomes more established, people could be sent there from other parts of the country.
The cost of the new health and wellbeing centre – one new building and two converted lodges on the estate – will be covered by private donors who support Charles’ charity. The cost of running the service is covered by the profits Dumfries House makes as a tourist attraction.
Frontline medical care will continue to be provided by the NHS, while the centre will focus instead on ‘preventative’ measures and offer a range of ‘complementary’ treatments and therapies.
The new ‘Royal Health Service’ at Dumfries House has the backing of the NHS, the voluntary sector and local authorities, who have been involved in shaping and delivering its ‘integrated health programme’.
Dietician Carolyn Paton, one of two new health and wellbeing coordinators at Dumfries House, said: ‘People may think health and Dumfries House may not form a natural link, but once people see what we are doing here, they are keen to become involved.
‘We connect with experts who have the ability to think about a range of ways of improving people’s health, including complementary therapies. The Dumfries House integrated health programme is supported by rigorous research and assessment.
‘The opportunity to work with people outside a clinical setting is important. People appreciate coming to such an inspiring setting. That makes a difference. The range of initiatives run as part of the integrated health programme here at Dumfries House has grown quickly and the new health and wellbeing centre will allow us to broaden our
‘Providing things health service may not offer’ ‘People appreciate an inspiring setting’
offering. We will be able to deliver more to GPs who would like to refer patients to us for complementary therapies.’
Eddie Fraser, director of East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: ‘The health and wellbeing work at Dumfries House has been a real success of partnership working, delivering benefits for the local community.
‘Through East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, both the council and NHS Ayrshire and Arran have engaged with the Dumfries House Trust to make use of the facilities to support wellbeing in the local community.’