Surrey practitioner convicted of falsely claiming to be osteopath

The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), the UK regulator of osteopaths, has successfully prosecuted Leslie James Bailey for unlawfully calling himself an osteopath.

On 29 July 2014, at Redhill Magistrates’ Court, Mr Bailey was found guilty of five counts of falsely describing himself as an osteopath, contrary to Section 32 of the Osteopaths Act 1993. Since the passing of this Act the title ‘osteopath’ is protected and it is a criminal offence for anyone to claim, expressly or by implication, to be any kind of osteopath, unless registered with the GOsC.

Mr Bailey, who provided services at the Back & Joint Pain Centre on 175 Coulsdon Road in Caterham, was fined £7,500 plus £2,500 to cover the GOsC’s costs.

The Court found that he had intended to mislead the public. Mr Bailey was described as an osteopath on the website for the Centre and on various other websites, including Google Plus. The charges also related to the wording on his business card, information provided to people attending the centre and details on the practice literature.

It is important that organisations that employ individuals realise that osteopathic practice is legally restricted to those registered with the General Osteopathic Council. Patient safety is the primary purpose of restricting the use of the osteopathic title. The GOsC ensures that the practitioners on its Register are safe and competent osteopaths who follow strict codes of conduct.

For details of a registered osteopath in your area contact the General Osteopathic Council on 020 7357 6655 or visit the GOsC website www.osteopathy.org.uk

ENDS

For further information contact:
The GOsC Press Office
Tel: 020 7357 6655 x245
Email: pressoffice@osteopathy.org.uk

Notes to Editors

The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) has a statutory duty to regulate the practice of osteopathy in the UK. Osteopaths must be registered with the GOsC in order to practise in the UK. We work with the public and the profession to promote patient safety by:

• registering qualified professionals
• setting, maintaining and developing standards of osteopathic practice and
• conduct
• assuring the quality of osteopathic education
• ensuring continuing professional development
• helping patients with concerns or complaints about an osteopath.

The statutory Register of osteopaths provides a geographical index of all practising osteopaths, and is available to the general public and to healthcare providers online at: www.osteopathy.org.uk/information/finding-anosteopath