I’m really pleased to share an article I’ve had published in Nursing Times about integrating Western medical acupuncture (WMA) into everyday healthcare, with a particular focus on palliative and oncology nursing practice in Sussex.

Read the full article here.

What is Western medical acupuncture (WMA)?

WMA is adapted from traditional Chinese acupuncture but grounded in current anatomy, physiology, and evidence-based medicine. In simple terms, it works by stimulating the nervous system and encouraging the body to release its own pain-relieving chemicals.

Why it matters in cancer and palliative care

In the article, I explore how WMA can help relieve both the physical and emotional side-effects of cancer and its treatment. For appropriately trained nurses, it can sit alongside existing care as a practical, supportive option, not an “either/or” alternative.

What patients may experience

Benefits can include symptom relief, improved pain management, reduced anxiety, and a stronger overall sense of wellbeing. In some cases, it may also reduce reliance on medication, which can be a big deal when people are already juggling complex treatment plans.

Making it accessible and sustainable

One of the key themes is access: multi-bed acupuncture clinics can be a cost-effective, sustainable way to widen availability, especially in community settings. The article also touches on the less-glamorous (but essential) bit: admin support matters hugely for keeping nurse-led services efficient and consistent.

Community-based access in Brighton

The piece also features CBAS, the Community Based Acupuncture Service in Brighton, which I co-founded to help make acupuncture more available in my local community. I’m sharing this to open up a wider conversation about what integration can look like in practice, and how we make it affordable, realistic, and part of everyday care.

I’ve used acupuncture in my work for years, and I’ve seen what a difference it can make when it’s offered in accessible, mainstream settings alongside conventional care.

The piece includes practical examples across different services and features CBAS, the Community Based Acupuncture Service in Brighton, which I co-founded to help make acupuncture more available in my local community.