'We need more osteopaths now' - Hughes

12.00.00am GMT Tue 29th Jan 2008

Simon Hughes, Member of Parliament for North Southwark and Bermondsey has joined another campaign started by the British School of Osteopathy (BSO), based in Borough in his constituency, to help those studying to become osteopaths to receive help from public funds.

Three years ago, Simon Hughes worked with the School to help students studying Osteopathy to be funded on an equal basis to those studying other subjects. The BSO are keen to increase recruitment from less privileged groups through their Widening Participating Strategy.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has developed new guidelines so that, from 2008/9, students studying for qualifications which are at a lower or equivalent level to qualifications they already possess will no longer have their degree studies funded and will have to pay full fees. Osteopathy is one of the subjects included in this list.

Margaret Wolff, Vice-Chair of BOS, has once again approached Simon for help.

Simon has now written to the Minister for Lifelong Learning, Bill Rammell MP to raise the concerns of the BSO, and to press the government to exempt osteopathy degrees from the list of subjects which will receive no funding.

In his recent letter to the minister, Mr Hughes said:

''Osteopathy is an extremely important discipline and qualified osteopaths are needed to treat a range of muscular and skeletal disorders. I am concerned that, by reducing funding for degrees in osteopathy, the government will lower the number of qualified osteopaths available to treat patients''.

Mr Hughes added:

''I am concerned that the BSO will suffer if the government does not change its mind. It is clearly in the national interest to encourage graduates.

''I will continue to press the government to ensure that they understand that osteopathy and degrees in osteopathy are in the interest of the health of our nation''.

ENDS

Note

The British School of Osteopathy (Patron, the Princess Royal) is a registered charity which educates student osteopaths, treats patients and promotes research and is at 275 Borough High Street, London SE1, 02074070222 and www.bso.ac.uk. Local residents are welcome as patients.