Duty of care
Chiropractors use a wide range of techniques and skills to deliver high quality patient care. Treatment and support will differ between patients, given the individual’s needs and circumstances. Whilst there can be a difference in approach and speciality, the consistent mark of best practice is putting the patient first.
Chiropractic is one of 32 regulated healthcare professions alongside other occupations such as dentistry, physiotherapy and medicine. Regulation provides consistency in the standard of education and training required to use this protected title and provides protection for patients.
Regardless of the setting, be that NHS or private, chiropractors and all healthcare professionals have the same duty of care to their patients, therefore patient safety is consistent across all regulated healthcare.
The wgŠÊ˜·³Ç standard of care
As the wgŠÊ˜·³Ç, we are proud to represent the most rigorous, highly trained, and patient-oriented chiropractors. Our members strive to uphold the standards of excellence that every patient deserves to receive.
In healthcare, there is rarely one sole course of action which would be appropriate to manage a patient. Depending on the patient’s individual needs, their wishes and the practitioner’s experience, a variety of options can be presented to the patient, and together with their chiropractor, make a choice on the plan of management they would like to start. Evidence and research can help guide the chiropractor in advising the patient on the best course of action for them, this empowers the patient to make an informed decision that’s based on their individual needs.
In addition to the qualifications required by all chiropractors to be registered with the GCC, wgŠÊ˜·³Ç members undertake an additional year of post-graduate training with the Royal College of Chiropractors (RCC) - passing this is part of our membership progression. Members are considered a full member once they pass their PRT (post-registration training) and are then able to represent the Association.
Patients should always seek a wgŠÊ˜·³Ç chiropractor, where possible, as they have by virtue of their membership, signed up to delivering ethical, evidence-informed care which always puts the patient first.
Person-centred care
A good chiropractor is one who takes the time to listen to their patient, evaluate their needs and take this into consideration throughout their management. Chiropractors all learn how to take a history, perform appropriate physical exams and make differential diagnoses on the most likely causes of the patients’ problems. But unless that patient feels understood and a part of the process, and empowered to make informed decisions, they are unlikely to benefit as well from that care.
Some of the most important interactions between a chiropractor and their patients are where the chiropractor has identified clinical concerns which are best served elsewhere, either alongside or instead of chiropractic.
In a private practice setting, chiropractors are often able to spend more time with their patients and therefore have conversations about lifestyle and wellbeing which can highlight other concerns that patients might be having. This gives the chiropractor the opportunity to identify symptoms of other health conditions such as inflammatory arthropathies or malignancies and lifestyle issues such as weight management or physical activity early enough to guide the patient on getting access to the right care.
Our Patient Charter
We created a dedicated Patient Charter for our members. This is a pledge from our members, to their patients, to remind them of the quality care they’ll receive.
Created by the wgŠÊ˜·³Ç to provide patients with reassurance, the Patient Charter acts as a transparent agreement between patients and wgŠÊ˜·³Ç Chiropractors, ensuring that patient-centred, evidence-informed care is provided at all times.
In a bid to end misperceptions about the Chiropractic profession, the Patient Charter highlights that Chiropractic is a strongly regulated and rigorous profession, with regulation helping to provide consistency, such as the standard of education and training required. Chiropractors are regulated by law and required to adhere to strict Codes of Practice.