Osteopathic Health Care Offers:

• Qualified practitioner with skills in patient assessment, differential diagnosis treatment planning and manual skills.
• Cost savings
  • minimises need for imaging
  • reduces the incidence of NSAID prescriptions
  • minimises need for specialist referral
• Rapid access and continuity of service.
• Popularity of service
  • 80% of public are aware of the value of osteopathy (38% 1993)
  • 16% public have received osteopathic treatment
• Negligence claims brought against osteopaths are extremely rare ( reflected in low cost of professional indemnity insurance approx £95)
• The NHS has incurred no costs in the provision and training of osteopaths.

Wiltshire Health Authority1997. Acute back pain project use of Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Physiotherapy and Acupuncture

• Conclusions that Osteopathy and Chiropractic may be more effective than physiotherapy.
• Reduction in number of prescriptions given compared with retrospective patient group.
• Number of Med 3 certificates issued were reduced with a quicker return to work.
• Recommended that GP's should consider contracting with Chiropractor or Osteopath

Current Research

1. Sentinal Audit funded by NHSE. To examine the movement of patients between GP's and Osteopaths / Chiropractors
   Publication late 2000
2. MRC (BEAM ) Trial for UK back pain. Exercise, active management and manipulation.
   Publication late 2001.