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Lecture, Session1B
08.30-10.30
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A Cracking Success? The Impact of Statutory Chiropractic Regulation
Chiropractic is the smallest independently regulated health profession in the United Kingdom. Established under the Chiropractors Act 1994, the General Chiropractic Council opened its register in 1999. There are currently around 2500 chiropractors in the UK.
With osteopathy, the passing of legislation governing the practice of what had been widely regarded as complementary or alternative medicine represented a landmark step. Although widely supported as a measure to protect patients and set standards, vociferous opponents cast doubt on the wisdom of granting such practitioners recognition.
This presentation explores the relative success of chiropractic regulation. In doing so, it looks at chiropractic in the context of the other regulated health professions and the development of their relative legislative structure and function, for this has shaped subsequent drafting and practice.
Although it is primarily concerned with the United Kingdom, it would be remiss for this presentation not to touch on the impact of statutory regulation in other nations. In a shrinking world where migration is increasingly straightforward, chiropractors have encountered regulation in a range of jurisdictions, yet the UK represents a system which many have found surprisingly stringent in its application.
Perhaps most importantly, this presentation looks at the impact of recent regulatory reform. Events in Hyde and Bristol have irrevocably reshaped healthcare delivery and the impact on chiropractic has been significant.
The presentation concludes by considering whether statutory regulation has been ‘a cracking success’. While it has not been without it challenges, the status of chiropractic has been enhanced, quality of care has improved and, most importantly, the protection of patients has been better assured.
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