ACMAC

WHAT IS A MULTIBED CLINIC?

A ‘multibed’ clinic, is a space where several people are treated together. This can be done in a one large room or in small rooms close to each other. Multibed clinics are a really new part of acupuncture provision in the West, appearing over the last 10 to 20 years.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the placing of very fine needles at particular points on the body, with the intention of improving the health of the patient. Traditional acupuncture is based on the idea that life-energy or chi runs all through the body. When chi runs strongly and smoothly, you feel energetic, enthusiastic and able to cope with life’s challenges.

What are the benefits of multibed/community acupuncture clinics?

Multibed clinics reduce the cost of acupuncture treatments. This is important because it means that more patients are able to access treatment frequently enough and for long enough to get better and stay better. If you only have a few treatments, or your treatments are too infrequent, the acupuncture may not build up the momentum to give you the healing you seek.

How much multibed acupuncture cost?

All clinics listed on the ACMAC site have agreed to offer acupuncture at around half the cost of a local ‘one-to-one’ treatment. Many clinics use a sliding scale of charges, so you pay what you can afford each week, or those on low incomes pay less than those on higher incomes. There may be a higher charge for the first appointment as this will often take longer and may be conducted in a private room.

Do mind people being treated together?

Research has shown that patients being treated in multibed clinics report many positive experiences and very few negative. (Stone, 2006). As well as the reduced cost, an extra benefit of multibed clinics is the community spirit that emerges when several people are treated together. Patients consistently report that they like the sense of togetherness and humanity they find there.