Why the medical community need Functional Medicine
Our society is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of people who suffer from complex, chronic diseases. Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental illness and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis outline the much bigger picture we are called upon to manage as NHS and private health sector workers.
The system of medicine practiced by most physicians is oriented toward acute-care. Unfortunately, the acute-care approach to medicine lacks the proper methodology and tools for preventing and treating complex, chronic disease.
NHS Healthcare Workers
The future of the NHS is not secure. Yet, we believe we simply don’t have time for this kind of integrated, complete, patient-centred healthcare system and this is true — in the short term, we don’t. However, if we don’t just use time out of our general practice, to attend CPD accredited talks, for example but actually find out what we can offer perhaps an entire clinical cohort, we are pushed against the wall. The common way of thinking is that this is not something we can offer because it is not available on the NHS. However, it is, to a very small degree and it is in our power to change this. This change is imminent with The Functional Healthcare Group because we will know what allied health professionals are doing, what their qualifications are, their skills and if they are willing to work for the NHS having worked privately from the start. NEWSFLASH: you can ask them. This conversation has to happen and it begins here in The Functional Healthcare Group.
What we risk is being eventually forced to handover patients to practitioners who may not be the right carer for our patient. This is happening already.
Find out what the NHS means to The Functional Healthcare Group on the cover and in the spotlight section of Politics First
Functional Healthcare in (Private) Medical Practice
There’s a huge gap between research and the way doctors practice. The gap between emerging research in basic sciences and integration into medical practice is enormous—as long as 50 years—particularly in the area of complex, chronic illness.
In most cases acute-care does not take into account the unique genetic makeup of each individual or factors such as environmental exposures to toxins and the aspects of today’s lifestyle that have a direct influence on the rise in chronic disease in modern Western society.
Most physicians are not adequately trained to assess the underlying causes of complex, chronic disease and to apply strategies such as nutrition, diet, and exercise to both treat and prevent these illnesses in their patients. So we either have to invest time in training or we have to work with our colleagues.
Integrating is not enough when it comes to really changing the WAY we DO healthcare. We need to recognise the skills that best service our patient’s needs.
Lifestyle medicine, for example, is highly individualised and functional methods are unique because they work WITH conventional medicine.
We need a complete care system. How would you feel about knowing your patients are in safe hands every time you make that referral? This referral reflects on us, as a TEAM, we are either improving the quality of life of patients or we are not. In both the private and NHS health sectors, this is CRUCIAL to upholding professional standards.
Functional Healthcare Group 