o zone login
  1. You are at:
  2. Home
  3. Standards
  4. Guidance for osteopaths
  5. Raising concerns
Print this pageEmail this page to a friend

Raising concerns

Raising a concern, which includes whistleblowing, is when you speak up or provide information about something you believe could be putting others at risk.

Every healthcare professional, including osteopaths, must put patients’ interests first and act to protect them. This means that if you have concerns about the care or safety of a patient, or the actions of a colleague, you must do something.

Reporting concerns to the GOsC

The Complaints section on our public website explains how to raise a concern or make a complaint to us if you think that a patient is at risk of harm because of an osteopath’s behaviour.

You can contact us on 020 7357 6655 x224 or email regulation @osteopathy.org.uk

Reporting concerns to other regulators

If the practitioner is a member of another statutorily regulated profession you should contact the appropriate regulator. You will find contact details for the other health and social care regulators on our public website.

Not sure about raising your concerns?

Raising concerns about a colleague can be challenging, but osteopaths have a professional duty to do so when they believe a patient’s safety is threatened.

1. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Would I be concerned if this health professional were treating my family or friends?
  • Is the person’s worrying behaviour repeated?
  • Does the person’s behaviour pose a risk to children or vulnerable adults?
  • What might happen in the short-term or long-term if I do not raise my concern?
  • If I was asked to so do, could I justify why I did not raise this concern?

2. If you raise your concern with us we may be able to provide protection under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. For further information see our Handling Whistleblowing Concerns Policy.

3. Seek advice and support from the organisations below.

Sources of advice
What the Osteopathic Practice Standards say

C4. You must take action to keep patients from harm.

Read more on the OPS website

Read the full guidance in the Osteopathic Practice Standards. If you are the principal of a practice you should ensure that there are systems in place to enable your staff to raise concerns about risks to patients, and you should also ensure that your staff know how and when to use those systems.

GOsC Handling Whistleblowing Concerns Policy

Any employee with an osteopathy-related concern about a danger, risk, malpractice or wrongdoing in their organisation can come to us if they feel unable to raise it with their employer. Our Handling Whistleblowing Concerns Policy explains what kind of concerns the GOsC can consider and under what circumstances we can provide protection for the whistleblower.