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AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE VSR MEETING DECEMBER 2008
Attending
Jennie Longbottom – Chair. (JL)
Paul Blacker, Ear Acupuncture Register, secretary, minutes (PB)
Pauline Ronson, Society of Auricular Acupuncturists, treasurer (PR)
Jonathan Tarr, Society of Auricular Acupuncturists (JT)
Anne Marshall, Acu-Detox Plus UK (AM)
Maria Mercati, UK Oriental Medicine (MM)
Amanda Shayle, The Acupuncture Society (AS)
Carole Bishop, Acupuncture Consultancy & Training (CB)
John Gavin, College of Naturopathic Medicine (JG)
Ian Cambray Smith – Foundation of Integrated Health (ICS) (FIH)
Dragomir Luborimov, The Acupuncture Society (DL)
Observing
Ewan Urquhart, Oxford Medical Supplies. (EU)
Sue McGinty, Nutritional Therapy Council, (SM)
Apologies / non attended
Ray Ghandi, NADA (RG)
Derry Jones, Jing Traditional Medicine (DJ)
Janine Cousins, Acupuncture Consultancy & Training (JC)
Ken Andrews – EFMA (KA)
Wan-Hye Park – Korean Hand Acupuncture (WHP)
AGENDA
Welcome and apologies
PB introduced JL as new chair. Group then introduced each of themselves to the chair.
JL formally started the group.
Previous meetings minutes.
Cost of chair, £300 per day, not £300 per year. Signed as accurate by the chair.
Welcome to newly appointed chair
Update on Stakeholder members
NADA and SMART to be contacted by JL with regards to re-joining the group.
Update on other stakeholder groups.
JL reported on the ASG. Issues, which arose student health in training. E.g. student consent forms, and practitioner consent forms. Some groups have exclusion criteria for pregnant women, others have informed consent forms. There was discussion about the evidence that might exist or not in relation to needling each other. PB introduced the topic of needling on students, and the fact that there had been some adverse reactions reported, and weather we had consensus to do this. JG raised the issue of the insurance issues, in relation to case history taking, and tutoring students. JL said that there was a need for publishing adverse reaction that occurs. PB suggested running a research project looking at adverse reactions within the Microsystems profession.
Standards of Education, Core Curriculum, external validation
External Validation
External validation was approached by PB to the BAAB. They have expressed an interest in discussing further the options that may exist. CB suggested utilising the OCN to validate courses and / or colleges. PR said the set up fees with the OCN were around £1000 per year and an annual fee in the region of £ 10 per student. PR said she would find out the exact figures.
The group feel that there was a need for external validation.
Proposed and voted for unanimously.
Core curriculum
PB proposed anatomy and physiology and pathology, should be a core pre requite for each Microsystems of the group. E.g. PB discussed the need for this. There was discussion about this. AM expressed her concerns over the detail of this and that it may exclude people form study.
PB proposed a basic level of anatomy and physiological understanding relating to the Microsystems being covered should be adopted by the group.
- Voted for and agreed unanimously by the group.
- There was discussion about Anatomy and Physiology for the whole body, and weather it should be incorporated into a core curriculum. PB discussed the need for the public to be protected.
- Voted and agreed with one abstention.
- Proposed was that there should be a fundamental level understanding pertaining to the Microsystems being covered.
- Voted for and agreed unanimously.
ICS said we should consider what it takes to be a safe and competent Microsystems acupuncturist, and that this should be the baseline for our core curriculum.
Finances update
PR said we have a balance of £2,312.00 currently remaining. Paid out had been the setting up of the web site and rental of the meeting rooms. PR updated the situation form the FIH.
Funding from the FIH will end 31.3.2010,
Update form the FIH and the requirements for the group. ICS has said the DOH has sent funds and that the group will receive the next £2500 before Christmas.
ICS said that the FIH could see no problem with EU donating monies to the group to fund its progress.
Collaborative working with other stakeholder groups
As discussed above.
Definition of Microsystems of acupuncture
DL to produce.
Scope of practice for Microsystems of Acupuncture
PB has emailed out to the group for discussion.
SM asked about EAV and who will set the standards and weather EAV was a stakeholder. JL said she would contact KA and David Mayor for clarification.
With minor amendments the document was agreed, and adopted. .
Areas of specialism, and training and recognition.
Training organisations have a variety of levels of training. ICS said that having a register identifying each level of training would be not possible.
PB raised the point of charitable status organisations, such as NADA and Acudetx-UK. iCS discussed the positive aspects for stakeholders, and that professional bodies will continue to exist after any voluntary register is in place, and that they have an important role in representing their practitioners.
Advertising and web site.
A budget needs to be developed for this, AS said she would look at setting what may be expected.
AS has generated a press release, which she will email the group for discussion these would be sent to news organisations. AS will produce a media schedule for circulation and discussion.
There was discussion around the need to inform the professions, the professionals and the general public.
Web site.
PR has received the web info from KA. PR identified the costs for setting up and running a web site. PR is to get Ken to develop the web site.
JL identified the need for the web site to be complete before going live. The AACP site was suggested to use as a template to use, and this will be discussed as a template to work from.
Research
AS recently discussed research at the SAA AGM. PB said that the profession needed to have a robust evidence base as part of its identified needs. JL identified the need for published articles such as audits and case studies. These could be published in a book. PB identified his audit and the Hugh McPherson safety as ones, which could be replicated.
JL will email the group a case history template.
PB to email the group the audit and documentation.
PB to contact Hugh McPerson in relation to research.
Insurance
Insurance was discussed. Although the group had discussed the need it was not agreed the exact method. ICS said that the CNHC have agreed that registrants have valid evidence based insurance. PR suggested having a single fee covering membership and insurance. Concern was expressed about substance misuse employees who are covered elsewhere. MM said she thought ideally there should be a choice for practitioners. SM informed how the NTC undertake this, and that the CNHC could be explored this at a later time. Insurance should be part of the professional association rather than the regulator.
PB raised the administrative elements to cover this.
The group agreed that there was a need for insurance to have with membership.
Any Other Business
The voice of the group was to be undertaken by the chair.
Next meeting; Friday 20th of March 2009
Bamforth Room
Connaught Hall
University of London
36-45 Tavistock Square
London, WC1H 9EX
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