Chiropractic is a primary contact health profession that specialises in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and management of conditions that are due to problems with bones, joints, muscles and nerves, particularly those related to the spine.
Chiropractors may treat all the joints of the body, but more commonly the muscles, joints and ligaments of the spine often with manual therapy using their hands to perform a wide range of skilled, precise manipulation, mobilisation or soft tissue techniques.
BCA chiropractors provide a ‘package of care’ including a biopsychosocial assessment whereby they support their treatment with cognitive interventions such as individual counselling and advice about the patient's lifestyle, work and exercise, in order to help in managing the condition and preventing it from recurring. Some chiropractors are also trained in medical acupuncture/dry needling.
In common with medical practitioners, the profession has statutory regulation and all chiropractors must be registered under the terms of the Chiropractors Act 1994 with the statutory regulator, the General Chiropractic Council (GCC).
All British Chiropractic Association members are registered with the GCC.
The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) is the largest and longest-standing association for chiropractors in the UK, requiring the highest standards of education, training and conduct from its members.
Referrals to professionals registered with a statutory regulatory body: The GMC and DOH state that from a legal point of view, GPs can safely refer patients to chiropractors who are registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC), (Complementary Medicine, information for Primary Care Clinicians, DOH June 2000). Chiropractors are fully accountable to the Statutory Regulatory Body for their actions and the patient can seek legal redress against them in case of accident. The GCC monitors training and sets standards of proficiency for competent and safe practice.
Back and Neck Pain –helping you and your patients: Musculoskeletal disorders place a heavy burden on the NHS in the UK. Traditionally, treatment for these disorders has been confined to hospital outpatient departments, but this is likely to change with the announcement by the Department of Health of an extension to the choice of provider of MSK services for Back and Neck Pain, underpinned by the principles of extending patient choice, driving up quality, reducing cost and enabling innovation. Chiropractors are well placed to deliver high quality evidence-based care for back and neck pain, as has already been illustrated by the highly successful, award-winning service in the NE Essex NHS Trust. Chiropractors from the British Chiropractic Association have recently been working with the NHS and the Department of Health to look at how commissioners can work locally with chiropractors and use chiropractors as Any Qualified Providers (AQP) for the treatment of back and neck pain. Read more here:
Contact the British Chiropractic Association on 0118 950 5950 or e-mail
enquiries@chiropractic-uk.co.uk if you would like further information or help.