Many people with a disability or long-term health condition are able to undertake osteopathic education and training, achieve a Recognised Qualification, and practise osteopathy with or without adjustments to support their practice.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion within osteopathy. We want to ensure that everyone, including people with a disability or health condition, can have a positive experience while training and registering to be an osteopath, regardless of their background, identity or protected characteristics.

What the standards say

The key point for osteopaths or students to consider is whether any health condition would impact on patient care. The Osteopathic Practice Standards set out the following obligations relevant to osteopaths who may have a health condition or disability:

D11: You must ensure that any problems with your own health do not affect your patients. You must not rely on your own assessment of the risk to patients.

If you know or suspect that your physical or mental health is impaired in a way that might affect the care you give to patients, you must:

• seek and follow appropriate medical advice on whether you should modify your practice and in what way
• if necessary, stop practising until your medical adviser considers you fit to practise again
• inform the GOsC

Guidance for students

If you are considering a career in osteopathy and have a disability or a long-term physical or mental health condition, our guidance should help you decide whether osteopathic education and training is right for you.

For osteopathy students who have or develop a health condition or disability, this guidance can help you manage these alongside your studies, and highlights the support available to you.

This guidance is also available in Welsh.

Guidance for educators

Seperate guidance is provided for osteopathic education providers. Our guidance for educators is also available in Welsh.