Dr Susie Rockwell

MBBS DRCOG DCH MFHom

NHS GP

and

Medical Homeopath and Nutritional Therapist

Private Consultations

Sussex Back Pain Clinic

58 New Church Road
Hove

BN3 4FL

(Corner of Walsingham road - map)

Telephone 01273 725667

dr@susierockwell.co.uk

About myself (picture)

I am an NHS GP and medical homeopath. I am also a GP appraiser.

I qualified from Charing Cross & Westminster medical school in 1987 moving to Brighton in 1989. I worked at the Royal Sussex County and the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital before moving to General Practice.

I continue to work as an NHS GP at Portslade Health Centre where I have been since 1992. I have run a well woman clinic there for many years and this interest has carried over to my homeopathic practice. I am involved in child health screening and have found that children respond particularly well to homeopathic treatment. I am a GP Appraiser and have worked in the past on the Professional Executive Committee of Brighton & Hove City PCT; I also act as a medical advisor for the Kent & Sussex ME Society.

I started Homeopathic training at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital in 2001. NHS time constraints prevent me from offering homeopathic treatment to many of the patients who may be interested in it, hence my decision to start a private practice during 2004.

I treat people privately at The Sussex Back Pain Clinic for a wide range of conditions and accept self referrals as well as referrals from other doctors and healthcare professionals. I can work with your GP or other clinician if you are hoping to reduce conventional medication.

NHS regulations state that I cannot treat anyone registered at Portslade Health Centre unless they are referred to me by another clinician.

I am not registered with BUPA or any of the other private healthcare providers. If you are insured with the HSA you can reclaim 50% of my fees.

I am a member of the Faculty of Homeopathy through whom I obtain professional supervision and continuing professional development. I am secretary of the Brighton & Hove Homeopathic Physicians’ multi-disciplinary special interest group.

During 2006/7 I have completed The Nutritional Healing Foundation diploma course and obtained their diploma in Nutritional Healing. I integrate nutritional therapy and naturopathic techniques into my practice where appropriate.

I am married and live in Hove. I enjoy most outdoor activities particularly mountain biking, running and tennis. My greatest passion is skiing; I regularly take time off to rep for the Ski Club of Great Britain

What is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a system of medicine that aims to help the body heal itself. A homeopathic consultation focuses on the whole person and enables the homeopathic medicines to be selected on the basis of all aspects of the patient and his or her symptoms. This means that each treatment, like each person, is unique.

Homeopathy works on the principle of “Using like to cure like”. This means that a patient is treated with natural medicines which would produce similar symptoms in a healthy person. For example, an onion can cause streaming eyes and a runny nose. Thus a homeopathic medicine derived from onions, Allium cepa can be successful in treating these symptoms in someone suffering from hay fever.

What sorts of conditions can homeopathy treat?

Most illnesses will respond to homeopathic medicines and some can be treated with homeopathy alone.

As a medical doctor trained in homeopathy, I will advise you when it is most effective to use homeopathic medicine, conventional medicine or a combination of both.

Allergies, anxiety, asthma, cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, menstrual and menopausal problems, morning sickness and stress often respond especially well

Children respond particularly well to homeopathy which can be used to treat a wide range of childhood illnesses including recurrent conditions such as asthma, tonsillitis and glue ear.

What does Homeopathic treatment involve?

As a homeopathic doctor I would seek to treat you as a whole person. I will ask you about your symptoms and what may have triggered them, and about how you feel emotionally and the unique way in which the symptoms affect you.

I ask my patients to complete a questionnaire prior to their first appointment in order to gain as much information as possible..

The first consultation may last up to 1.5 hours during which I take a detailed medical, nutritional, psychological and homeopathic history. I may occasionally need to perform an examination or to suggest investigations (e.g. blood tests) just as any other doctor would.

I may prescribe for you immediately at the end of the consultation, or I may decide to analyse your case further and to contact you after a few days with details of the homeopathic medicine I wish to prescribe. I will usually provide you with the remedy if only a few doses are to be taken. In cases where a remedy is to be taken over several weeks or months I will generally issue you with a prescription and details of where this can be dispensed.

A follow up appointment 3-6 weeks later is usually recommended. Complex conditions may require a number of appointments in order to achieve lasting benefits.

I may also need, with your permission, to communicate with other doctors or therapists involved in your case.

Nutritional Therapy

I believe that what we eat and drink is fundamental to good health and integrate nutritional advice into most of my consultations.

I have an interest in food intolerances and have found them to be very common. A wide range of patients particularly those with inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome may derive enormous benefit from following an exclusion diet.

Should I feel that you require further investigation I will write to your GP (with your consent) and ask if these can be completed on the NHS. Where this is not possible private testing may occasionally be recommended.

Where possible one should use diet rather than supplements to obtain our nutritional requirements, but purposeful supplementation can be useful.

Psychological Therapies

A huge amount of illness is caused by psychological distress and understanding this is vital in helping patients to regain their health. I have found that homeopathic prescribing is far more effective when based around the patient’s mental state.

I have received basic training in counselling skills and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which I integrate into consultations. Sometimes I see patients for a number of sessions to use CBT techniques e.g. for anxiety or stress related problems.

CFS/ME

I offer medical assessments for people who suspect they may have CFS/ME to try to make a definitive diagnosis.

I advise on management and treatment according to NICE guidance. This guidance does not support the use of complementary therapies in CFS/ME as there is currently insufficient evidence for their use. However a wide range of complementary therapies have been tried in CFS/ME and I can advise about which may be useful and how to access them.

After the consultation I prepare a detailed report for you and your GP which can be used for employment/benefits purposes as required.

During the assessment appointment there is insufficient time for full homeopathic or nutritional assessment so this would need to be done at a future appointment if required.

Charges

Homeopathic &/or nutritional therapy and CBT

Adults

· 1st Appointment £110

· Follow up £55

Children

· 1st Appointment £70

· Follow up £35

An additional cost of up to £7.50 for each prescribed homeopathic remedy may also be incurred. Any supplements recommended can be purchased directly from the suppliers.

Assessment of possible ME/CFS

· New patient £135

· Further advice £55

A detailed report will be supplied for CFS/ME patients that can be used for employment/benefits etc.

Telephone advice (for existing patients) charged pro rata - per hour £60.

Payment by cash or cheque, sorry credit cards not accepted.

Links:

Here are links to some handouts I have used at talks and presentations:

Endocrine control diet

Calcium content in food

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome information sources

High protein diet