The royal doctors will see you now!
Prince’s new Dumfries House clinic plans to offer treatments from Reiki to ref lexology
PRINCE Charles is set to open a ‘holistic’ clinic offering acupuncture, reflexology, mindful meditation and sex therapy sessions.
The prince, who has courted controversy in the past by supporting the use of complementary therapies, is keen to show they ‘have a place in healthcare’.
In a bid to take pressure off the NHS, he has set up a multimillion-pound clinic in the grounds of Dumfries House, the Ayrshire mansion he saved for the nation a decade ago. Full details of the remedies on offer emerged yesterday.
Nicknamed the ‘Royal NHS’, the new Health and Wellbeing Centre, due to open in January, will give free treatment to patients with conditions such as chronic pain, diabetes, anxiety, infertility and the side-effects of menopause.
Family doctors, physiotherapists and other NHS health professionals will be able to refer patients to the clinic, expected to see more than 2,000 people a year. The therapies are not a substitute for conventional medicine but an additional service to improve patients’ mental and physical wellbeing.
The new Health and Wellbeing Centre at the site of the former gate lodge has four treatment rooms, two activity rooms, a meditation room with underfloor heating and plush furnishings.
The bill for construction has been met by private donors and the running costs will be covered by the Princes Foundation and profits from Dumfries House Estate.
Health and Wellbeing co-ordinator Shiona Johnston, a registered nurse, said: ‘The centre has been designed to look very different from the clinical environment, with warm colours and soft furnishings so people feel at ease.
‘The holistic approach is all about the mind, body and spirit.’
Princes Foundation spokesman Gordon Neil said: ‘The main reason behind this is to support the NHS, which is under so much pressure.
‘His Royal Highness is keen to demonstrate that there is a place for complementary therapy within the healthcare environment. He has a vision for what is needed and wants to ensure the service is accessible to everybody. This is about helping people prevent and manage illnesses. His Royal Highness has been involved in every aspect of planning the new centre and gets weekly updates on progress. He is very pleased with what has been achieved.’
Dr Angelina Panico, a GP at Valley Medical Practice in New Cumnock, who refers patients to Dumfries House, said: ‘The health and wellbeing group has been a real life awakening for many of my patients.
‘From exercise in the fresh air to cooking with skilled chefs and dietitians, and receiving complementary therapies, the whole-person approach proved a huge success.
‘The other groups I have referred patients to have been the women’s health group, a fibromyalgia group, and living well with cancer group – all again massively worthwhile.’
Yesterday Andrew Cowie, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association’s Scottish GP committee, urged caution, adding: ‘The BMA only supports the use of complementary medicine services where there is scientific evidence of their efficacy and safety.’
‘The NHS is under so much pressure’