It is widely held that Northern Ireland uses more prescription drugs than any other region of the UK. Whilst these drugs often alleviate patients’ symptoms, they can also be highly addictive and cause adverse side effects. Frequently patients end up having to swallow the spider to catch the fly, taking further drugs to counteract the side effects of the previous ones. 

This hour-long programme examines a one year pilot scheme - the Get Well Scheme - which operated in two clinics in Northern Ireland until March 2008. The scheme allowed GPs to refer patients to complementary therapists with their treatment being paid for by the NHS.

The patients featured in the programme had a wide range of conditions which GPs would see on a daily basis. These conditions fell into two categories - mental and emotional as well as muscular/skeletal pain such as back pain and arthritis.

The scheme was available in two clinics only - the Shantallow Health Centre in Londonderry and the Hollywood Arches Health Centre in east Belfast. 

The purpose of the scheme was to see if these therapies could make patients feel better and get them off drugs, subsequently saving the government money. The therapies available included acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy and chiropractic, as well as aromatherapy and reflexology.

For many of these patients, these therapies, along with the time and care given to them by their therapists, was a life-changing experience and during the programme we see patients freeing themselves from life-long addictions to prescription drugs.  

Also featured in the programme and outside the scheme, a former nurse turns down chemotherapy in favour of alternative therapies. Consuming high levels of vitamins and minerals she hopes these supplements will stop her cancer returning.      

Producer Ronan McCloskey says: “We have a great cast of characters in this documentary with incredibly moving stories. Anyone who has ever taken a tablet or wondered about having acupuncture will enjoy this film.

“Without a doubt the therapies featured in this programme help patients and make them feel better, but who should pay for them? I think anyone who watches Get Well Northern Ireland might feel that we should make them available through our health service but we also need to manage them, so that the system doesn’t become overloaded or abused.

Including a story on alternative therapies and investigating their ability to fight cancer was a difficult decision for us. That said, cancer patients are using these therapies and spending a lot of money on them, often without telling their doctor. Marie, who we feature in the programme, is a former nurse who worked in oncology and who had researched her condition. I think she presents her predicament incredibly well and many viewers will find her story unforgettable.     

I wouldn’t be surprised if doctors are left fighting off crowds of patients looking for acupuncture and reflexology after this programme goes out.  Unfortunately their hands are tied as the decision to continue or expand this scheme really does lie with health minister Michael McGimpsey alone. In some ways, I don’t envy him. It’s a complex subject and it is important to remember that just because a drug doesn’t work for a certain condition, doesn’t mean that a foot massage will.” 

The Patients

Frances Gillen from Derry was addicted to prescription drugs for over two decades.  Having left an alcoholic husband and with five children to raise she became deeply depressed and rarely left home.  No matter what her doctor tried she became worse. Through the Get Well Scheme Frances received homeopathy, which she says caused her depression to lift. She has now stopped taking all her previous medicines.

Michelle McConnell suffered from constant anxiety and panic attacks following complications after the birth of her second child.  A near death experience in hospital destroyed her self-confidence and she was unable to leave her home for several months. Michelle was given acupuncture under the Get Well Scheme, which she says has given her a new outlook on life.  

Amy Patterson is a lovable pensioner from East Belfast.  A stroke five years ago left her with crippling pains throughout her body and dependent on many prescription drugs.  Amy received acupuncture through the Get Well Scheme, which she says gave her pain relief that the drugs could never match and allowed her to resume normal activities.

Marie Vaughan is a former nurse who worked in the oncology department of London's Guy’s Hospital during the 1980s. In May of 2007 she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  After surgery, Marie was offered chemotherapy to help stop the cancer returning. She decided to turn down the treatment in favour of alternative therapies.  

Get Well Northern Ireland is on BBC One NI on Monday May 5 at 9pm part of BBC Northern Ireland's exciting new range of local programmes for Monday nights. The programme is a Tern Television production for BBC Northern Ireland.