The BHMA is an open association of mainstream healthcare professionals, CAM practitioners, and members of the public who want to adopt a more holistic approach in their own life and work.

• We campaign for medicine as if people matter
• We promote understanding of the science and application of the mind-body connection
• We need to inform about alternatives for managing ill people who are doing badly with drug-based medicine
• We support practitioners searching for a less high-tech approach to healthcare
• We encourage integration of CAM within the NHS - in order to widen choice appropriately and harness natural healing potential
• We promote greater awareness of the context and meaningfulness of ill-health. Health problems can have family, community and global causes and consequences. Health is so much more than the absence of biological faults in individuals.

Medicine as if People Matter

The BHMA launched its campaign to support the provision of medicine as if people matter in the May issue of the Journal of Holistic Healthcare. We are particularly concerned about people with long term conditions who need to rebuild health; frail older people; and people whose health problems are distressing and demanding. Medicine as if People Matter requires a shift away from target driven, tick-box medicine. It requires: compassion and caring; practitioners who feel valued and value themselves; patients who feel empowered to take responsibility for themselves as a result of being listened to and encouraged to be well informed. The BHMA's big task is to influence the healthcare system to deliver on these requirements. Insofar as systems are a collection of individuals, we believe that each of us can make a difference; the more people who share this vision of holism and the more such people feel they are not a lone voice, the greater the chance of success.

Going for Gold Campaign

Our goal is to ensure that by the time we celebrate our golden jubilee, holistic practice will be at the heart of mainstream medicine. The time has come to raise funding that enables the BHMA to take action on creating the conditions from which future holistic practice will grow and flourish. For details of our 'Going for Gold' Campaign please click here

Become a leader in integrative medicine in the UK

Are you a GP or GP academic working within an NHS setting?

Are you interested in patient-centred care that focuses on healing the whole person – mind, body and spirit in the context of community?

Can you educate and empower people to be active participants in their own care, and help them to take responsibility for their own health and wellness?

Will you integrate the best of Western scientific medicine with a broader understanding of the nature of illness, healing and wellness?

Do you want to make use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches and evidenced-based global medical modalities to achieve optimal health and healing?

Can you build healing partnerships with your patient, and support the individualisation of care?

Can you help create a culture of wellness?

If you want to build on your interest and experience of integrative medicine apply to be the UK's first Bravewell Fellow in Integrative Medicine.

The Bravewell Collaborative, a US foundation founded by leading healthcare philanthropists, has developed an acclaimed course for doctors who want to develop integrated practice. They have now kindly agreed to award a UK scholarship through The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health. Click here for more information about our partnership with the Bravewell Collaborative)

British Holistic Medical Association are working closely with the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health to identify GPs or GP academics eligible for the Fellowship. The course, which commences in January 2009, entails two years distance learning as well as attending three residential weeks for hands-on training in Tucson, Arizona. The Bravewell Collaborative will cover all costs associated with this Fellowship, including tuition fees, flights and accommodation for the residential weeks. Click here for more information about the Fellowship and an online application form. Closing date for applications: 18 th July 2008

Local Network Groups

Network meetings are open to all and are an opportunity for like-minded people to discuss the benefits of a whole person approach to medicine; to share information; and, to share experiences.

The Brighton Local Network Groups next meeting will be on Wednesday 10th September at 7pm (for 7.30pm start) at The Charter Medical Centre, 88 Davignor Road, Hove BN3 1RF.

The Bristol/Bath Local Network Groups next meeting will be held on Monday 15th September from 8pm - 9.30pm at 25 Belgrave Road, Cotham, Bristol.

The North West Regional Network Groups next meeting will be held on 20th September from 6.15pm at Christie Hospital Rehab Unit, Christie NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4BX (for directions please see the events calender).

The BHMA South Wales Regional Network Group next meeting will be announced shortly. The next North Wales Regional Network Group meeting will be at 7PM at 4/4A Hawarden Road, Colwyn Bay LL29 8NA. Date to be announced.

If you are interested in joining any of the local/regional network groups please contact Diana Brown at the BHMA office on 01278 722000 or send an email with the name of the local group as the subject heading to admin@bhma.org

David Cobbold Essay Prize

The theme of the 2008 David Cobbold essay prize was Medicine as if people Matter - patients, practitioners and communities. We are pleased to announce that the winner of the £250 prize for 2008 was Amy Bright, a 3rd year Brighton & Sussex Medical student. See the August edition of the Journal of Holistic Healthcare for her winning essay! The first 25 entrants received free membership of the BHMA for a year. The 2009 David Cobbold essay prize is Students' Health Matters. To download the entry form and further details please click here

Reviews

Interested in the latest publications on holistic healthcare? click here for reviews of some of the recent books or DVDs in the field.