We're delighted to announce that our integrated health awards programme has now opened for applications.  This year we're offering eleven awards.  Five deal with the cycle of life - covering projects from cradle to grave.  There are four country awards, special awards for innovative Practice Based commissioning and Primary Care Trusts.  There's also a 'survivors award' - open to past winners who have been able to maintain a service over several years.

We welcome applications from within and outside the NHS.  Among the prizes are substantial cash awards, publicity for your project and a chance to attend our integrated health seminar in the autumn.

Our 2010 integrated health conference will take place on 7 - 8 July at the Royal Society of Medicine.

This year's event marks a coming of age for integrated medicine.  The programme has been put together by our Foundation Fellows - all eminent clinicians and scientists.

Find out more about the speakers here. A full programme and booking details will be sent to everyone on our newsletter list shortly: or simply drop us a line if you would like to be alerted as full details are finalised.

Indali lounge is the result of a lifelong dream of Dr Kartar Lalvani, who believes that a taste for Indian restaurant food need not lead to a bloated stomach and an incipient heart condition.  In January FIH went to sample his delicious award-winning food.

This month our blogger Margaret Hensman asks 'what is wellness anyway'?  Dr Heena Patel describes how a failure to listen led a patient to discharge herself from hospital despite a life-threatening condition.  Meanwhile Dr Anna Forbes explains more about her course in integrated medicine - from the effects of environment to a discussion of spirituality.

Finally our  student bloggers report on an integrated health event at the Royal College of Physicians.

When we think of the natural world as a part of integrated health, it's probably a gentle ramble through the countryside that comes to mind. But the outdoors can be a venue for adrenalin filled adventure too.  

Throughout the spring, previously reposeful-sounding organisations such as Natural England and the Woodland Trust will be teaming up with the BBC to highlight activities such as survival skills, white water rafting, parachuting, caving - plus a bit of kite-flying for the more meditatively inclined.

This month, there's a chance for midwives, doulas and childbirth educators to win a place on a seminar on incorporating bodywork in your practice.

Author Suzanne Yates will be leading a variety of speakers at an event at the Royal Society of Medicine on 4th March.

To go into the hat for a free place, email contactus@fih.org.uk by 5th February.

 

 The organisation Living Medicine, which is working towards creating healing community gardens nationwide, has won a grant to run a year-long community herbal project in West Ham Park in London.

They are seeking herbalists in the local area to be involved in cruical development work and in delivering workshops in the park and at local community venues.