BANT Launches Programme to Inform GPs about Nutritional Therapy
BANT, the governing body for nutritional therapy, has launched an engagement exercise to help raise the profile of the sector among GPs.
The British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy aims to give GPs and their practice managers an insight into nutritional therapy, how it could add value to their practices and support some of their patients.
The engagement exercise involves nutritional therapists from around the country writing to their local GPs in early May with a BANT-designed leaflet explaining what nutritional therapy is, its benefits and how GPs and Nutritional Therapists could work together.
Anita Nathan, a London GP with an interest in nutritional medicine, said that offering patients the choice to see a nutritional therapist to educate on how nutrition can support their health was a huge step towards them taking more responsibility for their own healthcare in the longer term.
“There is an important relationship between the nutritional status of patients and their symptoms, however in a primary care setting there really is not enough time to explore this relationship. Therefore, as GPs we need to be aware of and work constructively with other professionals like nutritional therapists who can support in this area," she added.
Around 200 nutritional therapists will be writing to GPs in the initial engagement exercise, which will then be assessed by the BANT Council on its success. Interested GPs will have access to posters for their practices and leaflets for their patients - all explaining how nutritional therapy might help improve their health.
Project Lead and BANT director Catharine Trustram Eve, said: “We want GPs to understand what nutritional therapy is, which patients may be best helped and how to work with their local nutritional therapist.
“We hope that this is a first step to a better working relationship between GPs and Nutritional Therapists,” she added.
For more information about the GP engagement programme go to www.bant.org.uk/bant/jsp/GPinfo.faces
