§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to include manipulation in all training courses for physiotherapy in order to ensure that the practice of osteopathy comes within the mainstream of medical practice.
§ Dr. OwenThe content of training courses in physiotherapy leading to State registration is a matter for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the Physiotherapists Board of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine. Instruction in manipulative procedures is included in pre-registration courses, but mobilisation of the spine by manipulation is reserved for post-registration courses. It is open to any doctor who considers it appropriate to use manipulative techniques of treatment or to arrange for such treatment to be given by a physiotherapist who has undertaken the appropriate training. Any question of bringing osteopathy within the mainstream of medical practice is a matter for agreement betwen the medical profession and the osteopaths.