PATIENTS in the region will be increasingly able to access complementary therapies through an NHS directory being developed.

GPs can use the list and make recommendations to patients.

The NHS believes there is a growing demand for alternative therapy and a growing number of NHS practices offer some forms of alternative treatment.

But because there is concern about the qualifications and skills of practitioners, the NHS decided to develop a directory, available on the Internet.

Inge Westerlinck, from Belgium, has set up a practice in Saltburn, east Cleveland, and is registered on the directory. She is qualified in aromatherapy, therapeutic massage, sports therapy, nutritional advice and Indian head massage.

She said: "The GPs and other NHS people can go on to the directory to look for aromatherapists for their patients. A lot of their patients suffer from stress-related problems, and that is one of the best things complementary medicine can help.

"I think the directory could definitely work for stress-related conditions because GPs have to see so many patients a day that they can't spend time with people.

"But because holistic practitioners take in the body, mind and spirit together, we can treat the symptoms and also the cause. GPs very often only have the ability to give a tablet to calm them down, and do not try to find the cause of the stress."

She said it was important to keep aromatherapy up to a certain standard, which is why training was so important.

She added: "But it is definitely a complementary medicine to orthodox methods. If I find something I can't deal with, I will refer them back to the GP, and if I am not sure I will talk to the GP. We have to work together.