Looks like Wirral PCT are going to reopen their consultation on #homeopathy

Shortened link for this post is http://is.gd/T2Nkxc

Wirral PCT decided on 29 March 2011 to stop funding homeopathy. This followed and I assume was because of the Evidence Check (22 February 2010) but the procedure may have been in place before then of course.

Pauline Lomas, who is 'certain homeopathy is one of the reasons she is alive today' after malignant breast cancer, has instructed Leigh Day & Co to challenge Wirral's decision AND Wirral's method of holding these meetings in private.

I'm all for transparency but if this was a consequence of the Evidence Check then I'm not sure why another public consultation is necessary (I don't think it's a bad idea... no decision about me without me and all that, I like public consultations). The Evidence Check was a public consultation though, it was pretty well publicised and had oral or written submissions from several homeopaths and homeopathy societies. Having said that I do think that Pauline has a point, that these things should take place in public if they're going to take place at all.

So Wirral are going to reconsult, and do it publicly. Strangely though, Pauline still doesn't seem to be that happy about the result that she's brought about "I rely on homeopathy to treat my cancer so I’m very upset and angry that the PCT plans to reconsult and may still withdraw all funding from the homeopathy service."

Well, one can hope.

Further reading

UK Parliament, MPs urge Government to withdraw NHS funding and MHRA licensing of homeopathy 22 February 2010 - publication of the Evidence Check 2 report.

NHS Wirral, Homeopathy Commissioning 18 January 2011 - the implications on page 2 are interesting.

The Skeptic Canary, A chance to question NHS Wirral Primary Care Trust on homeopathy 7 March 2011 - actually highlights that not a great deal of notice was given.

Merseyside Skeptics, NHS Wirral and The North West Friends Of Homeopathy: A Typical Wednesday Evening Out - 10 March 2011

Further listening

The Skeptic Canary / ipadio, Thoughts on NHS Wirral PCT public consultation on homeopathy 9 March 2011 - interestingly there's a story given of a woman who discovered a breast lump. She was about to be referred to a cancer specialist but in the waiting-list interim went to see a homeopath. When she came to see the specialist the lump had gone - it hadn't actually been diagnosed as cancer yet - but this was given as evidence that homeopathy had cured her cancer. I assume this isn't Pauline Lomas though as, according to the solicitor's website, she was "was diagnosed with malignant breast cancer in 2001" and she is still using homeopathy to treat her cancer.