A prominent Perthshire establishment, known for its hospitality and beautiful setting, has faced significant criticism after hosting a multi-day event featuring a controversial individual whose health-related practices are officially prohibited in her native Australia. The event, which took place recently, saw guests gather at the prestigious Crieff Hydro for sessions organised by a local Perthshire enterprise, The Good Food Project.
At the heart of the controversy is Barbara O’Neill, a 72-year-old Australian figure who delivered a headline talk. Ms. O’Neill is subject to a lifetime ban from offering health services in Australia. This severe restriction was imposed by the country’s Health Care Complaints Commission, which concluded that her advice had misled individuals in vulnerable circumstances, including those battling cancer and new mothers. Alarming Claims and Scientific Rejection
The Australian authorities cited a series of deeply concerning recommendations made by Ms. O’Neill. These included advocating for ‘raw goat’s milk’ as a substitute for breast milk for infants, promoting assertions that vaccinations were responsible for ‘an epidemic of ADHD and autism,’ and stating that cancer was a ‘fungus curable by bicarbonate of soda.’ These declarations stand in direct opposition to established medical science and have been thoroughly debunked by experts globally. Despite the official prohibition on her health service provision, Ms. O’Neill maintains a substantial online presence, commanding an audience of over three million social media followers. She has described herself using various titles, including ‘nutritionist,’ ‘international speaker on natural self-healing,’ and a ‘specialist in women’s and children’s health.’ Concerns Raised by a Leading UK Scientist
The decision by the Crieff Hydro to facilitate this event drew the attention of a highly respected cancer research scientist from the UK, Professor Colin Cooper. While on a personal visit to the hotel, Professor Cooper became aware of the nature of the conference and the involvement of Ms. O’Neill, alongside Tess Lawrie, a co-founder of the World Council For Health, who has also previously faced accusations of disseminating misinformation related to Covid-19 vaccines. Deeply troubled by what he discovered, Professor Cooper lodged a formal complaint with Stephen Leckie, the chief executive of Crieff Hydro.
In his communication, Professor Cooper articulated his profound concerns, characterizing the hotel’s decision to host such figures as a ‘profound and unacceptable lapse in due diligence’ and ‘an astonishing risk to the hotel’s reputation.’ He highlighted that allowing a venue to be used for the promotion of advice that could misinform the public on critical health issues potentially exposed the hotel’s guests to ‘harmful misinformation.’ Professor Cooper’s esteemed background includes leading the team at the University of East Anglia responsible for groundbreaking at-home prostate cancer tests, technology famously endorsed by Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, underscoring the weight of his professional perspective. Hotel’s Response and Broader Implications
Attendance at the Crieff Hydro seminar required payments reaching up to £395 per ticket. When approached for comment regarding the event, the organisers, The Good Food Project, did not provide a statement. The World Council for Health, however, acknowledged that its speakers participated in the conference, describing itself as an organisation dedicated to ‘defending health freedom and promotes healthy lifestyles.’ Ms. O’Neill herself did not respond to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for Crieff Hydro confirmed that the hotel had addressed Professor Cooper’s complaint directly. They stated: ‘Our function spaces are hired by many varied individuals and groups, and we can’t comment on the content of events that take place on our premises but aren’t organised or run by us.’ This response suggests a policy of neutrality regarding the content of privately organised events held on their premises, a position that may provoke further discussion within the Perth and Kinross community about the responsibilities of prominent local venues when hosting events with speakers known for promoting unsubstantiated health claims.
The Australian investigation into Ms. O’Neill in 2019 notably found that her qualifications in ‘nutrition and dietetics’ were ‘limited.’ The Australian Health Care Complaints Commission’s findings were unequivocal, stating that her dissemination of misinformation ‘has huge potential to have a detrimental effect on the health of individuals, as Mrs O’Neill discourages mainstream treatment for cancer, antibiotics and vaccinations.’ Her assertions of being able to ‘cure cancer,’ coupled with a failure to maintain appropriate records and her active dissuasion of people from receiving vaccinations, ultimately resulted in her permanent exclusion from delivering any form of health service, whether compensated or voluntary. This incident prompts a local dialogue on the importance of critical engagement with health information and the standards expected of venues in our community.
At the heart of the controversy is Barbara O’Neill, a 72-year-old Australian figure who delivered a headline talk. Ms. O’Neill is subject to a lifetime ban from offering health services in Australia. This severe restriction was imposed by the country’s Health Care Complaints Commission, which concluded that her advice had misled individuals in vulnerable circumstances, including those battling cancer and new mothers. Alarming Claims and Scientific Rejection
The Australian authorities cited a series of deeply concerning recommendations made by Ms. O’Neill. These included advocating for ‘raw goat’s milk’ as a substitute for breast milk for infants, promoting assertions that vaccinations were responsible for ‘an epidemic of ADHD and autism,’ and stating that cancer was a ‘fungus curable by bicarbonate of soda.’ These declarations stand in direct opposition to established medical science and have been thoroughly debunked by experts globally. Despite the official prohibition on her health service provision, Ms. O’Neill maintains a substantial online presence, commanding an audience of over three million social media followers. She has described herself using various titles, including ‘nutritionist,’ ‘international speaker on natural self-healing,’ and a ‘specialist in women’s and children’s health.’ Concerns Raised by a Leading UK Scientist
The decision by the Crieff Hydro to facilitate this event drew the attention of a highly respected cancer research scientist from the UK, Professor Colin Cooper. While on a personal visit to the hotel, Professor Cooper became aware of the nature of the conference and the involvement of Ms. O’Neill, alongside Tess Lawrie, a co-founder of the World Council For Health, who has also previously faced accusations of disseminating misinformation related to Covid-19 vaccines. Deeply troubled by what he discovered, Professor Cooper lodged a formal complaint with Stephen Leckie, the chief executive of Crieff Hydro.
In his communication, Professor Cooper articulated his profound concerns, characterizing the hotel’s decision to host such figures as a ‘profound and unacceptable lapse in due diligence’ and ‘an astonishing risk to the hotel’s reputation.’ He highlighted that allowing a venue to be used for the promotion of advice that could misinform the public on critical health issues potentially exposed the hotel’s guests to ‘harmful misinformation.’ Professor Cooper’s esteemed background includes leading the team at the University of East Anglia responsible for groundbreaking at-home prostate cancer tests, technology famously endorsed by Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, underscoring the weight of his professional perspective. Hotel’s Response and Broader Implications
Attendance at the Crieff Hydro seminar required payments reaching up to £395 per ticket. When approached for comment regarding the event, the organisers, The Good Food Project, did not provide a statement. The World Council for Health, however, acknowledged that its speakers participated in the conference, describing itself as an organisation dedicated to ‘defending health freedom and promotes healthy lifestyles.’ Ms. O’Neill herself did not respond to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for Crieff Hydro confirmed that the hotel had addressed Professor Cooper’s complaint directly. They stated: ‘Our function spaces are hired by many varied individuals and groups, and we can’t comment on the content of events that take place on our premises but aren’t organised or run by us.’ This response suggests a policy of neutrality regarding the content of privately organised events held on their premises, a position that may provoke further discussion within the Perth and Kinross community about the responsibilities of prominent local venues when hosting events with speakers known for promoting unsubstantiated health claims.
The Australian investigation into Ms. O’Neill in 2019 notably found that her qualifications in ‘nutrition and dietetics’ were ‘limited.’ The Australian Health Care Complaints Commission’s findings were unequivocal, stating that her dissemination of misinformation ‘has huge potential to have a detrimental effect on the health of individuals, as Mrs O’Neill discourages mainstream treatment for cancer, antibiotics and vaccinations.’ Her assertions of being able to ‘cure cancer,’ coupled with a failure to maintain appropriate records and her active dissuasion of people from receiving vaccinations, ultimately resulted in her permanent exclusion from delivering any form of health service, whether compensated or voluntary. This incident prompts a local dialogue on the importance of critical engagement with health information and the standards expected of venues in our community.