COVID-19: Government to consult on vaccination requirements

Subject to the outcome of the consultation, DHSC will revoke the original mandate planned for April 2022.

The mandate would have applied to osteopaths employed or commissioned in Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered premises or undertaking CQC regulated activities.

Typically this means that osteopaths working in NHS settings, or with doctors, nurses or dentists, would have been affected, but not those working in independent practice.

We have updated the information on our website about COVID-19 vaccinations for osteopaths to reflect our guidance and the government’s latest position, and we will continue to work with the other healthcare regulators and professional bodies to ensure consistent and ethical standards for patients and health professionals in the UK.

Matthew Redford, Chief Executive and Registrar, said: ‘Osteopaths have, throughout the pandemic, continued to maintain and uphold patient safety through their use of stringent infection control procedures and we thank them for doing so.

‘As restrictions ease, all osteopaths should continue to work within the framework of the Osteopathic Practice Standards which require them to “take all necessary steps to control the spread of communicable diseases” and to ensure that any problems with their own health “do not affect their patients”.

‘As well as checking updates on the GOsC website, we would strongly encourage all osteopaths to read and reflect upon a letter issued this week by the Chief Professions Officers for England, as well as the Medical Director and Medical Director for Primary Care in England, about their professional responsibility to protect patients.”

Our infection control guidance contains more information about the actions that can mitigate against the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in health settings.

The DHSC consultation is available on GOV.UK and closes on 16 February 2022.