Task 2
Megan Royle, Cheryl Hall
Introduction: In this assignment I will cover a range of criteria where I will explain how people can
access complementary therapy, why it is hard to get the therapy and why it is sometimes advised
to have alongside conventional medicines. I will go into detail about a variety of different
complementary therapies which could benefit particular people and help with their current
health status.
Explain how service users can access complementary therapies, with reference to factors
affecting provision.
Complementary therapy is often used alongside conventional medical treatments, these are
normally the medicines prescribed by your doctor. Different complementary therapies can
benefit all sorts of people with all different types of illnesses. A very common illness which works
alongside complementary therapy is cancer, a lot of cancer organisations provide
complementary therapy to help improve the well-being of the patient, and these can include
something as simple as a massage to reflexology and acupuncture.
Where can you go to get complementary therapy? There are many providers for complementary
therapy. These locations can include your GP practice, voluntary cancer organisations, cancer
support groups, hospitals, private practices, care homes, and hospices. Although these places
are all providers of complementary therapy there are sometimes barriers which I will go on to
explain...
“Barriers, these are the factors that prevent an individual gaining access to health, social care”
Factors, which could affect a service users access to complementary therapies, could derive
from multiple sources; these sources may include; socio- economic barriers, cultural, physical
and geographical barriers, this could also include the barriers which could occur during the
referral process systems.
Physical barriers
When the person wanting the complementary therapy physically cannot access the building in
which the session will take place. An example of a physical barrier could be possibly a fragile old
lady with weak legs but there is no lift to the floor she needs to get to in the building and she
cannot get up the stairs. This would then prevent her from receiving complementary therapy.
Socio-economic barriers: