I AM writing about the proposed closure of the inpatient ward at the Centre for Integrative Care (The Herald, September 5). The senior management at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have no idea of the damage they will do if they go ahead with their plans to close this ward.

The inpatient ward cares for people with long-term chronic conditions who have tried every other treatment available to them, and only when they arrived at the CIC did they find relief and respite from their conditions. They even discovered long-term improvements to their health. I have been an inpatient numerous times over the last 10 years and without exaggeration they have not only saved my life and given me my life back, but I have seen miracles happen to many other inpatients.

My long-term condition of chronic pain has over the years caused me chronic depression, and the care, support and treatments I have received at the CIC have enormously improved my quality of life. I know that many people feel as strongly about this as I do. NHS Greater Glasgow have said that the changes proposed are minor, but for many people, closing down the beds in the ward will have a major detrimental effect on the lives of them, their families and friends. The senior management want to turn the ward into a day service and if patients are to attend on several days of treatments, instead of staying in the hospital beds, they can book into a local hotel.

This is an outrageous and absurd suggestion as many of these patients require assistance with washing and dressing, morning and night, not to mention their medication, which they may require at various times during the day or night.

I believe what NHS Greater Glasgow is proposing is nothing short of criminal.

Finally, I must point out the ward has received many awards for outstanding work and excellence, which it truly deserves. Instead of closing it, the health board should use it as an example to all the hospitals in Scotland. It’s time the public understood what a great resource we have here in Glasgow.

Joyce Harvie,

42 Craigieburn Gardens,

Glasgow.

IN the past I have suffered from illness that was iatrogenic in origin, brought on by the excess use of antibiotics and more. As a result of guidance from my doctor I started to use homeopathy, bringing my health back and enabling me to have quality of life when all else had failed.

What was interesting to me was having an experience of different remedies affecting me in different ways. I did not know what remedies I had been prescribed. Some seemed to have little or no effect, and were, in fact, slow acting. Others could be quite marked in bringing about change, and at times they seemed like a “life saver”.

There is a lack of knowledge and understanding, as well as misinformation around homeopathy, endorsed and created by a group of sceptics based somewhere in England, trapped in a narrow rationalist perspective that is both dismissive

and arrogant. There are many things in the world we do not know about or understand. It is a known fact that all medicines can have a strong placebo effect. Homeopathy will be the same, but this should not be used to detract from its use and from knowledge of its incredible value.

In many continental countries homeopathy is recognised in law and practised alongside or instead of conventional medicine. The possible option of integrating it into the NHS would actually save a lot of money as the remedies, once prescribed, are cheap. I consider it to be of the utmost importance that the CIC should remain fully funded as it currently stands as a practising centre.

Jenny Smith,

9 Seaforth Place,

Findhorn,

Forres.

I SUPPORT the call by former Health Secretary Alex Neil for the NHS

to ensure funding is made available

to the CIC’s inpatient service (“Ex-minister in plea to save key hospital centre,” The Herald, September 5). Considering how safe and effective homeopathy is, it is in the public interest to have this bastion of good health kept for the community to use.

While a dedicated clinic for chronic pain is most likely much needed, surely there is another venue that can house such a clinic. Why rob Peter to pay Paul? The NHS is about making health options viable for the whole community, not just for those that want allopathic medicine options. There is an increasing push for medicine to only take the allopathic path, and it is not good enough. Communities need to have viable options across many therapies, and homeopathy is one of the strongest, most flexible and most efficacious therapies I have ever used.

Jennifer Edelman,

8 Caitlin Place,

Bli Bli,

Queensland,

Australia.

I WISH to support the need to

make this homeopathic hospital

a permanent part of the Scottish

NHS.

The CIC has been of huge benefit to me during my recovery from localised advanced breast cancer. While the Glasgow Western saved my life with the surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc, the Centre for Integrative Care saved my psychological, spiritual and emotional life that was in turmoil after a misdiagnosis.

The CIC has worked in tandem for me along with all the conventional treatment by the Scottish NHS. Perhaps members of the general public who have not used this Centre are unaware of the diverse nature of services they offer. The Centre for Integrative Care needs to be given credit for the work it is doing and be made permanent.

Jeannie Erskine,

8a Irvine Place,

Stirling.