Acupuncture sessions at the Dalziel Centre are providing pain relief to patients with palliative care needs after two members of staff completed training.
Staff nurses Claire Stewart, from Newmains, and Susan Daly, from Motherwell, now join the centre’s team leader Carol Murphy in being able to practice acupuncture.
Claire said: “We complete two weeks of intensive training in September and October and the sessions we now offer patients are proving very popular.
“By having Susan and myself trained it means more patients can benefit from acupuncture.
“It makes a big difference to patients and provides pain relief, relaxation and promotes a feeling of general wellbeing.”
Susan added: “Because there are three of us we are now promoting the service through GP surgeries.
“We explain to patients how the treatment works and its benefits.
“They then receive a session each week, for a six week period.
“The results vary from patient to patient but some feel the benefits for days.”
Bernadette Allan, from Wishaw, attends the multiple sclerosis drop in centre at Dalziel and decided to give the acupuncture sessions a go.
She said: “I was dubious before but I get a lot of spasms in my leg and arm due to my illness and thought I’d give it a try.
“You hardly feel the needles but after it the results were pretty amazing.
“The spasms stopped, I felt a lot better generally, and the effects lasted a couple of days. I’d definitely recommend it.”
The Dalziel Centre, based at Strathclyde Hospital in Motherwell, is for patients, carers and families in Lanarkshire who are affected by a cancer diagnosis and life limiting illness.
To contact the centre call 01698 245026/76.