Challenges and opportunities for professional acupuncturists in the UK

1. Challenges and opportunities for professional acupuncturists in the UK Nick Pahl – CEO, July 2013 This is a sample presentation

2. My background and BAcC links • NHS commissioner • Public health background • Vice Chair of Research Council for Complementary Medicine • Now 2 yrs in role as BAcC CEO… This is a sample presentation

3. What I will cover About the British Acupuncture Council Acupuncture as a profession Partnerships BAcC plans Opportunities This is a sample presentation

4. British Acupuncture Council • BAcC represent professional acupuncturists with extensive training in both traditional acupuncture and the biomedical sciences appropriate to the practice of this medicine. • 3000 members • Ongoing PR • Monthly e news, the Acupuncturist, funds EJOM • Supports Acupuncture Research Resource Centre • Regular events and programmes to support practice This is a sample presentation

5. British Acupuncture Council • Professional Standards Authority Accreditation • Has regulatory function - including codes of practice, complaints, conduct and ethics. • Continuing Professional Development to ensure the highest patient standards are maintained • Regional groups • plus the usual services you would expect such as insurance, legal helpline etc This is a sample presentation

6. Acupuncture as a profession in the UK • Public demand growing – from 2.5m to 4m treatments per year • Research is (developing) increasing being recognised – with NICE guidance recommending acupuncture for headache and lower back pain • British Acupuncture Accreditation Board has developed standards of education and training • Professional status enhancement e.g. With Professional Standards Authority Accreditation of the British Acupuncture Council

7. British Acupuncture Accreditation Board • The British Acupuncture Accreditation Board was formed in 1989 to establish an accreditation process for professional acupuncture education in the UK • The process is an extensive and rigorous 3 year evaluation of educational methods and standards in accordance with set criteria • The BAAB is an independent body • There are 11 institutions in the UK that have been accredited including universities and private colleges This is a sample presentation

8. Public attitudes to acupuncture • Myths surrounding acupuncture continue e.g. A recent survey found that 21% of the British public think an acupuncturist’s needle is as large as that used in an injection! ..And many policy makers think needles are re-used! • Still seen by many as un-researched “alternative medicine” • Acupuncture Awareness week has improved public perceptions

9. This is a sample presentation

10. Partnerships across Acupuncture • Research e.g. ARRC symposia • British Acupuncture Accreditation Board report - reviewed standards of education and practice • working to better to inform the Advertising Standards Authority • Links with Confucius Institute This is a sample presentation

11. Acupuncture and the NHS • Acupuncture offers a solution within NHS settings of care e.g.GP practices • Opportunities to provide services in new Commissioning arrangements • New Musculoskeletal Clinical Lead in NHS England • Personal budgets from 2014 • Excellent examples of practice e.g. Gateway clinic, Asante clinic

12. Acupuncture in the NHS - new structures

13. British Acupuncture Council Plans • A more a prominent role in national debates, challenging established paradigms in healthcare, and state our right to use our expertise within the UK’s health infra-structure. • Acupuncture Awareness week - March 2014 • Conference - Sept 21/22nd 2013 • Support members practice e.g. Through Business Support Programme • Re-brand • Seeking to improve alliances…

14. Opportunities • Convincing decision makers – see next slide • Research – convincing agencies such as the Advertising Standards Authority be better informed (of the challenges of research in this area • Informing the British public about acupuncture and the true value of the heritage of Chinese medicine • Musculoskeletal key area for members, but growth in infertility treatment This is a sample presentation

15. STAKEHOLDERS INFLUENCERS MPs/All Party Group Peers Colleges Universities UK Medical professionals’bodies DECISION MAKERS Local authorities NHS commissioning bodies ASA Media Ministers, officials, special advisers NHS England Board Dept of Health Local councillors PSA NSH Clinical commissioning groups Dept of Business, Innovation & Skills Which? HealthWatch/ patient representative groups Think Tanks Patients Political parties

16. The future for acupuncture • An outward looking force to improve health, which develops partnerships across Chinese medicine • A profession with an increasing evidence base • Understanding of what acupuncture offers by policy makers - leading to statutory regulation • A lack of regulation may be a threat to acupuncture?

17. ....In a short space of time acupuncture has achieved recognition of sort by political and medical elites. ....What we don’t want is to be co-opted by the mainstream. Can we take a further step change? Step 3 Step 2 Step 1 This is a sample presentation

18. Thank you – questions? British Acupuncture Council 63 Jeddo Road London W12 9HQ tel 020 8735 0400 Email info@acupuncture.org.uk www.acupuncture.org.uk twitterNickPahlBAcCCEO This is a sample presentation