On Friday 21 August, the British Chiropractic Association and Surbiton Chiropractic Centre were delighted to welcome Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Kingston and Surbiton, for a visit and discussion on the role chiropractors play in supporting patients and the wider healthcare system.
Ed met Surbiton Chiropractic Centre owner Matt Clifton-Hadley, alongside Hope Cooke, Charlotte Bader and Josh Clark. They were joined by Neil Reilly of Kingston Chiropractic Plus, as well as Cait Allen, CEO of the BCA, and Faye Dean, Vice President of the BCA.
The visit allowed local chiropractors to highlight to Ed first-hand the care they provide every day and the difference this makes to people living with muscle, bone and joint conditions. It also opened up a wider discussion about the profession, the pressures facing patients and the NHS, and the barriers that currently prevent chiropractors from playing a greater role alongside other healthcare professionals.
With almost 440,000 people in England waiting for MSK care, making better use of the skills and capacity already available across the healthcare workforce has never been more important.
Ed was highly engaged throughout the visit and keen to understand both the contribution chiropractors are already making in their communities and what needs to change for the profession to support more patients.
The meeting also demonstrates why local engagement is such an important part of the BCA’s wider public affairs work. What began as an invitation from a local chiropractor to visit his constituency clinic developed into an opportunity to bring together local clinicians and the BCA’s national leadership for a substantive discussion with a national party leader.
A huge thank you to Ed and everyone who took part in such a positive and constructive discussion.