Is osteopathy available on the NHS

Many medical treatments are available through the NHS. However, complementary and alternative medicines such as osteopathy, acupuncture, homeopathy and chiropractic are not termed ‘mainstream healthcare’. This means that the availability of these types of treatments are very limited on the NHS.

Ultimately, it is down to your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to decide whether to fund osteopathy in your area. You can speak to your GP or CCG to see whether osteopathy is available to you. However, even if your area is funded, it may not give you immediate relief. Because osteopathy is so limited on the NHS, be prepared to be at the bottom of a very long waiting list.

What about the private option?

The majority of people aren’t prepared to wait for osteopathic treatment through the NHS, and opt to pay privately. Fees range from £35 to £50 for a 30 to 40 minute session; your first session is likely to cost a little more and take longer as your chosen osteopath will undertake a full assessment in order to determine a treatment plan.

It is important to be aware that even if you decide to go private, osteopathy might not be a suitable treatment. Your osteopath may also ask you to visit your GP or have further medical tests after your initial session; this is because your osteopath is fully committed to doing everything possible to diagnose a problem before commencing any treatment.

If you do decide on the private option, it is essential that you ensure your chosen osteopath is fully qualified and registered with the GOsC (General Osteopathic Council).

How do I choose an osteopath?

At the moment, osteopathy and chiropractic are the only complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners to be regulated in the same way as conventional medicine. It is a legal requirement for all qualified osteopaths to be registered with the GOsC. It is illegal for anyone to call themselves an osteopath or offer osteopathic treatments without registration.

This means that you can use the General Osteopathic Council’s website to find a registered osteopath in your area.

Why is so important that I use a registered osteopath?

The General Osteopathic Council is a statutory professional regulation. This regulation provides patients with the peace of mind that all registered practitioners are properly qualified. You can be assured that your chosen osteopath follows the codes and standards set by the GOsC’s professional regulators, and practice in a safe, ethical manner.

An osteopath registered with the GOsC must meet certain standards, including:

• Rigorous training – a four or five year degree plus a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical training

• Osteopathic practice standards – ongoing standards an osteopath must meet to ensure quality care for patients

• Continuing professional development – registered osteopaths must update their training on a regular basis

• Revalidation – osteopaths will need to prove that they are up-to-date on all treatments and remain ‘fit to practice’.



You can find me, Andrew Caughey, on the General Osteopathic Council website by clicking here.