Chiropractors granted historic Royal Charter
At the Privy Council meeting on November 9, 2012 the Queen approved the Royal Charter to the College of Chiropractors. This is the first Royal Charter to be granted to a complementary medicine organisation on the UK.
As an academic and professional membership body the College of Chiropractors was established along the lines of the Medical Royal Colleges and over the past 15 years it has sought to ensure quality, safety and excellence in chiropractic practice.
The rarely granted Royal Charter formalises the College of Chiropractors’ position as a unique and non-
Tim Jay, President of the College, said, “The College of Chiropractors’ Royal Charter emphasises to the public and other health bodies that chiropractic is a healthcare profession with parity in the field of musculoskeletal health, providing a viable and recognised option for patients.”
The chiropractic profession is already regulated by statute. In Sussex chiropractic is only available within the private sector and it is likely that it will remain so for some time. However, the new commissioning arrangements implemented by the Department of Health mean that some UK regions, including Hampshire and Kent, will see a degree of NHS funding made available soon. However, we will have to wait as Adult Hearing, Wheelchairs and Diagnostics have been identified as the main health priorities in our area thereby excluding Worthing back pain sufferers from much needed support.
As a profession chiropractic treats conditions of the joints, muscles and nerves. The relief from back pain is a major part of this work. This, often debilitating, condition has recently risen to the number one as the World’s most life changing disease and it costs the UK between 1% and 2% of its GDP, equivalent to 15 mio to 30 mio pounds per year,
