The London School of Osteopathy Clinic - Frequently Asked Questions

No. Patients are able to self-refer. You do not need to have a letter from your GP. Sometimes your GP may suggest you visit an osteopath. We are happy to accept such referrals. Sometimes after visiting the clinic we may recommend you make an appointment with your GP or we may write to your GP with your permission.

For our latest fees please visit our Fees Page

Some people get immediate relief from their symptoms, for others it can take longer. The sooner you visit an osteopath after symptoms appear the quicker we are usually able to help.

Osteopathy is based on manual therapy. It involves non-invasive procedures  and treatment is provided by practitioners using their hands. Osteopathic techniques range from gentle movements and soft tissue techniques to high velocity thrust techniques to adjust joints of the body. Your student osteopath will explain the proposed treatment with you which will include a discussion as to whether any techniques may be uncomfortable or if you may feel sore afterwards.

You can then decide if you wish to proceed or choose an alternative treatment plan.

If you feel any pain or discomfort during treatment you should immediately tell the person treating you.  It is possible that you might feel a little soreness after osteopathic treatment – this is fairly normal and usually self resolves within 24-48 hours and may be aided by using ice packs &/or heat (the student can advise you on how to do this safely).

In order to make a diagnosis the student osteopath will make a detailed analysis of your body. The spine is almost always examined, no matter where your symptoms are, as it is vital in integrating your functional health. Other areas of the body may also be examined, particularly if you are experiencing symptoms there. In order to carry out a full examination you will be asked to undress down to your underwear so that your spine can be seen.  If you do not feel comfortable undressing then please let the student osteopath know.

The teaching clinic is set up with mixed teams. Patient requests are noted, but cannot be guaranteed (with either the student or tutor).

Osteopathy students are required to spend at least 1000 hours in clinic before they are able to qualify as an osteopath.

Alongside time in clinic students spend time in lectures to gain an in-depth understanding of human anatomy and physiology. alongside a broad range of other subjects. If you are interested in the osteopathic training that students
undertake please visit our course pages.

As students are combining clinical training with lecture studies this may not always be possible. Patient requests are noted, but cannot be guaranteed.

Osteopathy is an Allied Health Profession recognised by NHS England. More information can be found by clicking here.

The London School of Osteopathy courses are accredited by the General Osteopathic Council, and validated by Anglia Ruskin University.

The Clinic Tutors are registered with the General Osteopathic Council who require them to maintain their knowledge and skills through regular professional development.

If you would like more information on regulation within the osteopathic profession please see the General Osteopathic Council website at www.osteopathy.org.uk

Some Health Insurance policies allow you to claim for osteopathic treatment. As the London School of Osteopathy Clinic is a teaching clinic where treatments are undertaken by students, we are not able to provide treatments under medical insurance. If you wish to source osteopathic treatment under your medical insurance please refer to the General Osteopathic Council website to locate a registered osteopath at www.osteopathy.org.uk.

Yes all our students are DBS checked.

We aim to provide the best care possible at all times. If you feel our standards have slipped or you are unhappy with the treatment you have received, it would be helpful if you could raise the issue with the student / staff member concerned at the time – feedback is a vital tool in the learning process and most issues can be resolved
effectively in this way.

Click here to read our complaints policy and procedures

Patients are welcome to wear a mask but it is no longer required. Staff and students will be wearing a face mask during close contact.

LSO PRIVACY NOTICE. This relates to patients attending the teaching clinic.

(Why we collect your personal data and what we do with it)

When you supply your personal details to this clinic they are stored and processed for 4 reasons (the bits in bold are the relevant terms used in the Data Protection Act 2018, which includes the General Data Protection Regulation – i.e. the law):

1. We need to collect personal information about your health in order to provide you with the best possible treatment. Your requesting treatment and our agreement to provide that care constitutes a contract. You can, of course, refuse to provide the information, but if you were to do that we would not be able to provide treatment.
2. We have a “Legitimate Interest” in collecting that information, because without it we couldn’t do our job effectively and safely.
3. We also think that it is important that we can contact you in order to confirm your appointments with us or to update you on matters related to your medical care. This again constitutes “Legitimate Interest”, but this time it is your legitimate interest.
4. Provided we have your consent, we may occasionally send you information in the form of articles, advice or newsletters, or requests to participate in research or focus groups. You may withdraw this consent at any time – just let us know by any convenient method.

We have a legal obligation to retain your records for 8 years after your most recent appointment (or age 25, if this is longer), but after this period they will be deleted/ destroyed.

If your records are stored on paper, these are kept in filing cabinets. in a locked office, and the clinic is always locked and alarmed out of working hours.

Electronic data may be stored on our computers. These are password-protected, backed up regularly, and the office(s) and clinic rooms are locked and alarmed out of working hours. The LSO currently uses Cloud based digital storage via Cliniko and GoogleDrive.

We will never share your data with anyone who does not need access without your written consent. Only the following people/agencies will have routine access to your data:

• The Clinic Supervisors and students, in order that they can provide you with treatment
• Our reception and administrative staff, because they organise our practitioners’ diaries, and coordinate appointments and data input (they do not have access to your treatment notes or medical data)
• Senior Management Team, to ensure good governance

From time to time, we may have to employ consultants to perform tasks which might give them access to your personal data (but not your medical notes). We will ensure that they are fully aware that they must treat that information as confidential, and we will ensure that they sign a non-disclosure agreement.

You have the right to see what personal data of yours we hold, and you can also ask us to correct any factual errors.

Provided the legal minimum period has elapsed, you can also ask us to erase your records.

We want you to be absolutely confident that we are treating your personal data responsibly, and that we are doing everything we can to make sure that the only people who can access that data have a genuine need to do so.

Of course, if you feel that we are mishandling your personal data in some way, you have the right to complain.

Complaints need to be sent to what is referred to in the jargon as the “Data Controller”. Here are the details you need for that:

Marlene Davis

Info@lso.ac.uk       0207 237 1422 opt 1 

12 Grange Road, London, SE1 3BE.

If you are not satisfied with our response, then you have the right to raise the matter with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House, Water Lane

Wilmslow, Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 0303 123 1113