GP Information

Osteopathy – where does it fit in your GP practice?

NICE (the National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines recommend manipulative therapies including osteopathy for the treatment of low back pain.

• The Department of Health is encouraging PCTs to commission skilled musculoskeletal professionals such as osteopaths.
• BMA guidelines state that GPs can safely refer to statutorily-regulated professionals such as osteopaths.
• Osteopaths have sound clinical training in musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) with primary care skills in triaging for pathology and referral to GPs if required for further investigations.

Osteopathy provides

• Provision of musculoskeletal disorder service close to your patients’ locality.
• Quick access for patients with MSDs, normally 2-3 days.
• Continuity of treatment – patient sees the same practitioner.
• Patients seen by practitioners skilled in clinical assessment and applied differential thinking.
• Patient reassessment at each attendance.
• The Osteopath will help develop self-support strategies and exercises appropriate for each patient.
• No capital costs to the GP practice as all support staff and all resource costs are inclusive within fee set.
• Osteopathic service provision has a low DNA rate along with high patient satisfaction.
• An acknowledgement of clinical governance requirements.