18/07/2025
Why is chiropractic still missing from NHS pathways - despite growing MSK demand and strong evidence for its impact?
Last week, our CEO Cait Allen visited the House of Lords to raise this exact issue with Baroness Ritchie and Lord Weir.
As discussed during the meeting, we believe excluding chiropractic from integrated healthcare models is a missed opportunity, especially considering:
1. The aims of the NHS 10-Year Plan
2. The growing burden of MSK conditions
3. Evidence showing chiropractic care can help people return to work more quickly
4. The potential for community-based care to ease system pressure
We also shared our concern that decisions about the profession continue to rely on outdated policy and evidence from 2019.
There is now robust, updated research (including health economics data from the University of York) that supports the case for chiropractic’s inclusion in NHS and local service models.
We're encouraged by the support and outcomes of the meeting, including:
1. Oral and written parliamentary questions to address:
- How community chiropractors could be integrated into neighbourhood MSK services
- The potential to expand the AHP list to include more community-based healthcare professionals
2. A potential parliamentary debate on professional integration
3. Support in contacting key decision-makers
Such as the Minister for Health to highlight that current policy positions are based on outdated information.
These are important steps forward. Raising the profile of chiropractic in Parliament increases awareness, builds credibility, and helps lay the groundwork for future integration into NHS pathways and multi-disciplinary care.
We are grateful for this support and to our public affairs partners at Tendo for helping us bring these issues to the highest level of political discussion.
The BCA will continue to advocate for the fair evaluation, recognition, and integration of chiropractic within UK healthcare.
We’re committed to change.
