Osteopathic employment in the national health service and private practice: a comparison of the attractions, benefits and drawbacks of each
Item
- Title
- Osteopathic employment in the national health service and private practice: a comparison of the attractions, benefits and drawbacks of each
- Author(s)
- Davies Robert
- Abstract
- Legislation over the past decade has provided osteopaths with the opportunity of employment with the National Health Service (NHS). This project aimed to compare the attractions, benefits and drawbacks of such employment to that of osteopaths working as assistants in private practice. The sample size was 15, representing individuals from different NHS centres and private practices throughout the UK. Given this sample size, only a limited, comparative insight could be made. No significant conclusions could be drawn. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data. The results indicate that the attractions, benefits and drawbacks of employment with the NHS seem to vary depending upon employment location and the philosophy of the particular osteopath. Generally it appears that osteopaths choose to work for the NHS to develop their experience after a number of years in private practice. Being in a position to provide free health care also appears to be an influential factor. Osteopaths work as assistants to gain experience and to obtain an immediate post-graduate income. Any osteopath in this study did not consider having a written contract of employment important. Drawbacks of employment in the NHS are associated with a reduced remuneration (compared to treating in one’s own, established, private practice) and working in a pressurised environment, which some osteopaths believe to be as a result of poor government funding. Assistants also reported remuneration as a drawback of working in private practice, but tended to accept this as a necessary part of their professional development.
- Abstract
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2000
- Date Submitted
- 31.7.2000 00:00:00
- Type
- undergraduate_project
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 12163
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Nhs,Osteopathic Practice,Osteopathic Profession,National Health Service,Employment
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Davies Robert, “Osteopathic employment in the national health service and private practice: a comparison of the attractions, benefits and drawbacks of each”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 1, 2025, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/2096