At a meeting of the Privy Council on the 7th November, the Queen granted a Royal Charter to the College of Chiropractors. This is such brilliant news for chiropractic care in the UK as it is the first Royal Charter to be awarded to an institution outside the traditional healthcare system and signals that chiropractic care is a valued approach to the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.
It is a long-awaited award for the chiropractic profession. As long ago as February 2008, local MP for Portsmouth South, Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat), asked the then Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether he would support the application by the College of Chiropractors to the Privy Council for a Royal Charter.
The College of Chiropractors is a professional organisation which mirrors the approaches taken by the Medical Royal Colleges. Its membership body consists of chiropractors that have attained a level of competence, expertise and professionalism. Its objectives include promoting the art, science and practise of chiropractic, improving and maintaining the standards of chiropractic practice for the benefit of patients, promoting awareness and understanding of chiropractic amongst medical and healthcare professionals and the general public, as well as education, training and advances into the study and research into chiropractic. More information about the College can be found on the College of Chiropractors’ website www.colchiro.org.uk
Although chiropractic is regulated by statute through the General Chiropractic Council (GCC), chiropractic has been seen as a complementary or alternative medicine obtained privately. However, it is now emerging more within the Department of Health’s Commissioning arrangements and in some regions, is now available through the NHS. This indicates a wider acceptance of chiropractic generally and that chiropractors that specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions are providing a clinically recognised method of treatment for conditions such as low back pain, which costs the equivalent of 1-2% of GDP and has a significant impact on the lives of many people, resulting in many working days lost each year.
Jackie Leftwich of Waterside Chiropractic is proud to be a Member of the College of Chiropractors and their Specialist Animal Faculty. Jackie values the leadership and innovative approach that the College brings to the chiropractic profession. A Royal Charter is regarded as the gold standard for organisations such as the College of Chiropractors and this will undoubtedly help the future development of the chiropractic profession. Chiropractors have been waiting many years for this level of recognition and so all in all, it is fantastic news for chiropractors!