I sent the following to my MP. Some of you that read this may wish to do likewise.
If I may have you attention for a couple of minutes to
First of all I would ask you to keep this confidential as
it may affect my memebrship of my regulators the General
Osteopathic Council (GOsC).
I have spoken to my Regulators once before and made a
subsequent confidential phone call to them outlining
the issues current osteopaths and new graduates are facing.
Osteopaths with the formation of the GOsC
as our regulators were promised NHS inclusion, (it is
understood that these things take time),
however, if an osteopath were to undertake an internet
search for osteopathic jobs no jobs exists.
The options available include working from home, setting up
within a clinic – to pay rental fees
(heavy losses incurred when patient lists are non-existent
or small), or as a start-up.
Essentially you must understand the only option is
self-employment or be prepared
to move to New Zealand or to Ireland as just two
examples.
However if you were to undertake the same search for a
physiotherapist job there are a number of recruiters who
undertake this task but one must be HPC registered (Health
Professions Council). This brings me onto a crucial
point: A physiotherapist will pay £150 fee to remain
on the HPC register as oppose an osteopath who pays
£770 to be on the general Osteopathic council.
When questioned about the disparity bewtween fees we are
given unsuitable answers such as:
‘the physiotherapy profession is much larger’, why we
penalised for this?
I did not undertake a 5 year medical degree course and
approximately £30,000 course fees
etc to come essentially to find no jobs.
Many of my colleagues are in the same boat and it is
unacceptable that certain individuals are not able to
continue their membership due to financial restraints.
Although it is not in the GOsC interest to acknowledge
this.
We are told by law due to an Act of parliament passed that
the Council at present cannot do anything, but
again why does the osteopath have to be penalised by this.
Also with the inclusion of the National Institute of
clinical excellence (NICE) guidelines and the
musculoskeletal framework issued by the department of
health
citing the inclusion of osteopaths and chiropractors it
seems all theoretical; no actual changes are being
implemented ground level in terms of job creation. I
was not sure where else to take up this issue but was
recommended that you would be an appropriate contact.
I am a very frustrated that after 5 years of financial pain
and personal scrifice there are no jobs for osteopaths
and I am unable to use my knowledge and skill to their full
potiential. Many of my collegues have given up and
are now trying to establish another career.
If I can re-iterate my desire to stay anonymous as I
do not wish to be ‘black listed’ by the GOsC but do feel
that these issues merit your awareness and hopefully some
advice on the matter.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your
time in advance.
Best regards Mr A. Osteopath.
