In the news - January 2008
Way Ahead 2008;12(1):1,15
Dr Allen Bowling's webcast interview
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a growing area of interest in the treatment of MS, but separating the fact from the fiction is no easy task. The MS Trust conference presented an opportunity to draw on the knowledge and expertise of Dr Allen Bowling in seeking answers to some of the most challenging questions CAM provokes.
Dr Allen Bowling is Director of the Complementary and Alternative Medicines Program at the Rocky Mountain Center in Colorado and Associate Professor of clinical neurology at the University of Colorado. He is author of several books and numerous articles on the subject of complementary and alternative medicines and is noted for taking a non judgmental, evidence based approach to an area that can excite bold claims both for and against nonconventional treatments.
In a 20 minute interview with Dr Bowling, we raised the questions that frequently form the basis of enquiries received by the MS Trust information team, from both health professionals and people with MS. In answering some of these questions, a vast range of issues relating to complementary treatments and dietary approaches to MS were explored alongside some of the factors that motivate people with MS to seek out non conventional treatments.
Dr Bowling identified common misconceptions about CAM that exist amongst health professionals and people with MS, and highlighted the importance of more informed decision-making in their use. From the commonest, to the virtually unheard of therapies, Dr Bowling shed light upon the potential benefits or associated risks of many.
The interview and will be of great interest to health professionals and people with MS alike. It is accessible as a webcast and a transcript of the session can also be downloaded.
Back to topMS Nurses win top awards
The MS Trust would like to congratulate Kathy Franklin, MS Clinical Nurse Specialist at Northampton General Hospital on receiving the honoured title of Queens Nurse from the Queens Nursing Institute. Kathy was one of 19 nurses awarded the title 'Queens Nurse' as a distinction for nurses working in primary care and the community. A number of patient groups are backing the scheme with the belief that it will help patients benchmark the standard of care they received.
Congratulations are also due to Cardiff and Vale nurse Rhiannon Jones, winner of a top British Journal of Nursing Award for her work with multiple sclerosis patients. Rhiannon, an MS Clinical Nurse specialist based at the Helen Durham Centre, University Hospital of Wales, received special recognition for introducing a new system for the administration of a number of new intravenous therapies for MS.
Both Kathy and Rhiannon are shining examples of the hard work and dedication that underpins service excellence within the nursing community.
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Way Ahead articles are reproduced as published. They are not updated to take account of subsequent developments. Use appropriate caution in acting on the information in any article.
