Letter: NHS homeopathy

Sir: Professor Ernst rightly states that homeopathy is practised by two groups in the UK - doctors and non-doctors ("When the poison is the cure", 17 November).

However, the rest of his article only deals with the issues of non-doctor practice. Homeopathy is available on the NHS and has been since the inception of the Health Service. It is misleading to suggest that it is only available by paying pounds 30 to pounds 50 a time in the private sector. Within the NHS it is practised by doctors, both in general practice and in the five NHS homeopathic hospitals around the country.

Dr BOB LECKRIDGE MB ChB MFHom

President of the Faculty of Homeopathy

Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital