The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) has proudly launched their new public site, which openly asks the public to enter into the consultation process on defining osteopathy:
At present, there is considerable lack of clarity about what constitutes osteopathic practice … we would like to hear whether you feel it necessary to define osteopathy and, if so, how this could best be achieved.
The question is do the GOsC really want to know whether it is necessary to define osteopathy? The same site also contains Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). One such question, which can be found half way down the page, asks What is osteopathy? :
Osteopathy is a primary care profession, focusing on the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders, and the effects of these conditions on patient’s general health.
It would appear that despite the appearance of consultation with the profession and the public about the scope of practice, the GOsC has already decided that osteopathy is ‘focused’ on musculoskeletal disorders. This is re-emphasised in the answer to the next FAQ, “What do osteopaths treat?”, repeating the fact that osteopathy (not osteopaths) focuses on musculoskeletal and related disorders:
Osteopathy focuses on the diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal and other related disorders without the use of drugs or surgery.
There is a huge and often subliminal tide towards the focus of treatment on musculoskeletal disorders, as this is what the majority of osteopaths currently treat. Just because there are lots of GPs, this does not mean that medicine does not specialise in anything other than family healthcare in general practice, so why are osteopaths being limited to treatment of musculoskeletal and related disorders?
Another page on the site, about osteopathy, addresses the hot topic of pregnant women, saying that they seek treatment for “changes to posture in pregnancy”. How long before the scope of practice is limited to an even smaller range of disorders than those for which osteopaths are currently allowed to claim benefit?
A page on continuing professional development gives an insight into the way the GOsC think about osteopathy dealing with anything other than straightforward musculoskeletal disorders:
There are now also postgraduate courses for osteopaths in a range of subjects including sports care and osteopathic treatment of children (my emphasis).
The GOsC appear to have made a small concession to the fact that osteopaths can learn more about such new treatment approaches such paediatrics and sports medicine after graduation – what about the long-established Osteopathic Centre for Children; the osteopathic olympic support team; treatment of animals; visceral osteopathy?
GPs are encouraged by the GOsC to refer patients to osteopaths for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) :
… treatment is based on mobilising and manipulative procedures tailored to the individual patient, reinforced by guidance on diet, lifestyle and exercise … Conditions appropriate for referral include MSDs such as back, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, and sport- and work-related injuries. Other commonly treated conditions include migraine, asthma, arthritic pain, digestive disorders and infantile colic.
Only GPs, not the public, are told by the GOsC that osteopaths treat these other conditions. With such an attitude from our ruling body we have a long way to go before the tide turns on osteopathy and we are recognised as being able to (or allowed to) treat the whole person, whoever they are and whatever their health status.
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