Tell us what you think of the Osteopathic Practice Standards
16 January 2026
We have launched a call for feedback on the Osteopathic Practice Standards (OPS) to help inform how they should be updated.
Feedback will help to inform proposed changes before a full consultation in summer 2026 to help shape the final version. We will work collaboratively to ensure that our updated standards are clear, fit for purpose and support excellent patient care.
What are the Osteopathic Practice Standards?
Osteopaths are autonomous health professionals – this means that they are trained to exercise their professional judgment to make independent decisions in partnership with the patient in providing osteopathic advice and care. The OPS set out the knowledge and skills necessary to be an osteopath and how osteopaths practise to high standards of competence, ethics, professionalism and safety.
Why are we reviewing the standards now?
The current OPS came into force in 2019, and good practice suggests reviewing them regularly to reflect changes in law, society and public expectations and developments in osteopathic practice and training.
Human interaction, touch and a holistic approach to patients remain key foundations of osteopathic practice and the diversity of approaches in osteopathy supports patients in getting the care they want and need. We are proud of the high quality patient care that osteopaths offer to patients. Our 2023 YouGov survey showed that osteopaths continue to provide high quality care that patients wanted with 94- 99% of patients who had recently seen their osteopath rating their osteopath as good.
Since the last review, health policy changes have included: national shared decision making guidelines, shifting care to communities, prevention and digital literacy, changing the way osteopaths have to work. Artificial intelligence is now being used in healthcare settings in ways we couldn’t have predicted. At the same time, complaints about failing to maintain appropriate professional boundaries is a rising concern across the health professions, including osteopathy. What do these challenges and opportunities mean for the OPS?
We want to hear from osteopaths, students, patients and anyone with an interest in osteopathic practice to understand:
- What you think of the current standards
- How useful the standards are in practice
- What works well and what doesn’t
- Whether anything important is missing (including coverage of contemporary issues)
- What changes would make the biggest difference and why?
Your feedback will shape the future
Fiona Browne, Director of Education, Standards and Development said:
‘The Osteopathic Practice Standards set the core standards that osteopaths hold themselves to and that patients and society expect. The standards form the foundation for osteopathic education, training, continuing professional development and practice and are fundamental to patient safety and high-quality care. We want to hear from as many people as possible to help inform our initial updates. Whether you’re an osteopath dealing with these standards daily, a patient who has received osteopathic care, or you are involved in osteopathic education – your perspective matters. Together, we can continue to create standards that are up to date, clear, practical and support excellent osteopathic patient care.’
Deadline for responses is 1 March 2026
Read more about the call for feedback
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