Osteopathy

From consultation through to treatment you will come to experience the best of care.

How can I be sure I am in safe hands?

All of our Osteopaths have demonstrated to the General Osteopathic Council via a detailed application process that they are safe and competent practitioners, this is once a four year medical based degree has been completed. All have adequate malpractice insurance and have agreed to abide by a Code of Practice.

What happens first?

On your first visit to an Osteopath, they will take you through a detailed case history.  This will include areas you may not initially realise are relevant to your specific complaint.  You will be asked to answer a series of questions pertaining to your current complaint.  This section of the consultation is of huge importance to your Osteopath as it enables them to build a detailed image of what tissues and structures are involved in your injury or complaint.  (Please not that all under 16’s must be accompanied by a chaperone).  Once the initial discussion of the complaint has been completed you will be asked to adequately expose the area.  To gain a greater understanding of structures involved you maybe asked to disrobe to your underwear, however at all times your modesty will be maintained.  It is important to understand that although your practitioner is there to identify and treat your condition, if at any stage of the examination or treatment you feel uncomfortable or unsure you must express your concerns and your practitioner will endeavor to adapt the situation to suit.

How many times will I have to see the Osteopath?

The average number of visits to an Osteopath is between 4-6, sometimes less and sometimes more and occasionally an extended maintenance programme is required or desired. However it is the policy of this practice that if you do not respond to your treatment we will discuss other alternatives and try to find a solution to you suffering.  At all times during your treatment journey you will be informed and updated on how the injury is coming along, you will not have to ask for this information.

What are the Osteopath’s qualifications?

All registered Osteopaths have either a diploma or degree in osteopathy and are members of The General Osteopathic Council.

Is Osteopathy still classified as “alternative medicine”?

No. In the UK a recent Parliamentary Report described osteopathy “as a distinct system of manual medicine within its own right”. It is now totally mainstream.

Is Osteopathy officially recognised?

Osteopathy enjoys full State protection and it is illegal to practice as an osteopath unless properly trained and registered with the General Osteopathic Council. Mr. Roy Roberts is registered with this organisation.

Extensive clinical & medical training

Osteopathic training comprises a four to five-year BSc Honours degree programme with extensive clinical training from the outset. Osteopaths are also committed to lifelong learning through a system of mandatory Continuing Professional Development.

It is a criminal offence in the UK, liable to prosecution, to describe oneself as an osteopath unless registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). The GOsC regulates, promotes and develops the profession of osteopathy, maintaining a statutory register of those entitled to practice osteopathy. Only practitioners meeting the highest standards of safety and competency are eligible for registration.