Share your views on strengthening protection of the title ‘osteopath’
17 June 2025
We are seeking views on our plan to request amendments to the Osteopaths Act 1993. Our aim is to provide further protection for patients and the public from misuse of the title ‘osteopath.’
We are consulting on this issue now because we have been made aware of a rapidly growing trend of individuals not registered with the GOsC, using terms that are closely related to the term ‘osteopath’. These terms such as ‘osteopathic techniques’ or ‘osteopathic manipulation’ are being used in promotional material targeted at patients and the public, and this could give the impression that these individuals are osteopaths.
We believe that strengthening the Osteopaths Act by adding additional terms that will therefore also be protected, will allow us greater scope to tackle this matter of non-osteopaths aligning themselves with the profession by their use of terms that are familiar and recognisable to the public, and therefore is a risk to patient safety.
It is the role of the GOsC to protect the public and the reputation of the osteopathic profession and, by law, osteopaths must be registered with the GOsC to practise in the UK. It is an offence for anyone to describe themselves as an osteopath, or give the impression that they are an osteopath if they are not registered with the GOsC.
However, we are not able to take action against individuals who use terms such as ‘osteopathic technique’ and ‘osteopathic manipulation’ because of the current wording of the Act. The legal advice we have received suggests that the current wording is unlikely to be enough for use of these terms to be considered a breach of the protection of title rules.
Our consultation aims to find out:
- The level of support for the GOsC to seek an amendment to Section 32(1) of the Osteopaths Act 1993.
- What changes we should make to improve the legislation so we can further protect the public and the reputation of the profession.
- Awareness levels of the issue.
- If there is evidence for the need for this change.
Matthew Redford, GOsC's Chief Executive and Registrar said:
'Protecting the public through upholding the reputation of the profession is extremely important to the GOsC, which is why we do not believe it is right that unregulated professionals can align themselves with the highly valued title of osteopath. The consultation we are running seeks to strengthen protection of title so that we can take proportionate actions to address concerns raised with us.
Changing legislation will need approval from the Department of Health and Social Care and this is where input from key partners can help highlight the backing from the profession on this issue.’
We are seeking feedback from osteopaths, patients and key partner organisations across the profession, and anyone with an interest in this issue. Those responding will be able to share their views, and let us know whether they agree with our proposed changes, as well as helping to clarify the extent of the issue.
The deadline for responses to the consultation is Thursday 9 October 2025
