British Acupuncture Council

11/07/2025

The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) today published their response to the NHS Long Term Plan, "Fit for the Future". You can read the full article here: https://acupuncture.org.uk/news/psa-accredited-acupuncture-is-a-vital-solution-for-the-nhs-10-year-health-plan/

The BAcC highlights the crucial, often underestimated role, that BAcC member acupuncturists can play in addressing the profound challenges facing UK healthcare.

Integrating highly trained and Professional Standards Authority (PSA) accredited traditional acupuncturists is not just an alternative, but an evidence-based, cost-effective, and patient-centred solution, essential to the future success of the NHS.

07/07/2025

The Summer edition of our wonderful Acu Magazine is out now and it’s a holiday bumper edition with plenty of inspiring reads for members and non-members alike.

Take your pick from our regular highlight ‘Just my Point’ written by renowned scholar and practitioner Peter Firebrace. In this season’s Acu, Peter shares his love for Du 20, Bai hui ("the Puppet Master’s String") and what it offers practitioner and patient.

We also hear from new graduate, Grant Clerehugh on setting up his new practice space in the Sheffield Clinic of Complementary Medicine, a brilliant read for anyone looking for inspiration in their own clinics.

There is an article from members Kelly Turnbull and Roy Haitzin on the success of the Brighton based ‘Brighter Days Project’ an initiative set up to provide free acupuncture treatment to local people in need.

Plus a guest editorial from our first ever CEO Mike O' Farrell, Sandra Hill on the character 'Tong' and a special Summer Qigong flow from Duncan McGechie.

You can read Acu magazine, following this link https://acupuncture.org.uk/acu/ If you’re a BAcC member you get access to extra articles so don’t forget to log in beforehand! Happy Summer reading!

01/07/2025

Last week CEO Alex Jacobs and team presented a session at the IPM Congress together with Osama Amnar from the Professional Standards Agency, and BAcC Acupuncturist Fleur Clackson showcasing our flagship NHS integration project with the Inner Gloucester Primary Care Network which provides mental health support through the the skills of our highly trained acupuncturists.
The UK is currently experiencing a mental health crisis, and BAcC acupuncturists, who are accredited by the PSA are best placed to help alleviate the strain on local NHS services.
You can find out more about the project by visiting our website and you can watch the presentation on our YouTube channel -
https://youtu.be/xr00Jo9n4IA

18/06/2025

One year progress update from the CEO – Tonight - Wednesday 18 June 7.00pm – 9.00pm

Alex is celebrating one year in post as CEO of our cherished BAcC, and he would like to share all he has learned and achieved, as well as his plans for the future. He has chosen a webinar as the most interactive way to convey this information. After all, he has accomplished and experienced so much in the role that a written recap would take all day—and no one has time for that. He also understands that not every update will resonate with every member, which is why this webinar allows for focused and relevant discussions.
To ensure the session addresses your priorities, he’s asked for your questions in advance. This will help him identify common themes to cover in depth. Here’s an outline of what he plans to discuss:
• What the BAcC does and what it should be doing.
• How the organisation communicates transparently and responsively with members.
• How the BAcC provides support both individually and for building community.
• Cost considerations and value for money.
• How the organisation regulates its members and its expectations of them.
• Efforts to promote acupuncture, support practitioners, and advocate for the profession.
• The evolving vision for the future, with some exciting announcements ahead.

09/06/2025

The NHS has called for 200,000 new blood donors because of a shortage of blood but blood donation regulations still unnecessarily prevent patients of professionally trained and regulated acupuncturists giving blood.

The British Acupuncture Council has consistently lobbied for a change in these regulations. In 2017 it was recommended by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood and Tissues and Organs (SaBTO), that patients of appropriately trained acupuncturists should be allowed to donate blood but these recommendations have not yet been implemented.

Our research and policy manager Ian Appleyard has explained the situation in this blog post and we call again for ministers to implement our practical simple suggestion. This would allow acupuncture patients to help save the lives of others through the gift of blood donation.

https://acupuncture.org.uk/news/unnecessary-regulations-prevent-acupuncture-patients-from-giving-blood/

As reported in BBC News today, the NHS has raised significant concern over an estimated 200,000 blood donor shortfall and has urgently called for more donors to come forward. The British Acupuncture Council has consistently lobbied for a change in blood donation regulations because they are unnecess...

28/05/2025

Whoohooo it's enews day for our members and student members. A day for getting up to date on all thats happening and what you need to know from our wonderful community.
The headlines are - CEO update webinar reminder, replay for the supervision webinar, reminders about conference accommodation bookings and an amazing regional group event!

I really hope you enjoy reading yours.

If you are a professional acupuncturist and you aren't a member yet, what are you waiting for? Click her to join our amazing community of degree level acupuncture professionals - https://acupuncture.org.uk/join-the-bacc/

😍🙌

23/05/2025

Booking closes tonight at 11.55pm! Ticket sales are still coming in thick and fast, please don't delay, get you're NOW - https://acupuncture.org.uk/conference/

22/05/2025

Booking closes tomorrow for the UK Conference of Chinese Medicine 2025. 6-7 June 2025.
Get your ticket to the biggest and best UK conference of Chinese Medicine. Come and share all things acupuncture and herbs with fellow like minded therapists.

Booking closes at 11.55pm on Friday 23rd May 2025

All acupuncturists and herbalists are welcome 💚🫶💚

Book now at https://acupuncture.org.uk/conference/

21/05/2025

Dr Yair Maimon shares what he is excited about for this years conference, plus a bit about his session.

Ticket sales close on Friday 23rd May at 11.55pm - dont miss out on getting your tickets. 💚🫶🥳

20/05/2025

There is now only 3 days remaining until the conference bookings are closed.

They close at 11.55pm on Friday 23rd May 2025. 🥳💚

Grab your tickets now at - https://acupuncture.org.uk/conference/

19/05/2025

A reminder from Alex our CEO

The UK Conference of Chinese Medicine 2025 booking closes on Friday 23 May at 11:55pm!
This year’s conference is shaping up to be a really fantastic event. The lineup of speakers and topics is very special, but more than that, I’m most looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones. If you haven’t booked your ticket yet, please do consider coming along. And, if you see me there do come and say hello!
Alex Jacobs 🥳💚

ps..... it is not my voice on the video 🤪

15/05/2025

It's Mental Health Awareness Week and we have been focusing on what acupuncture and how our highly qualified practitioners, can help those in our community experiencing mental health issues.
Earlier this week our Research and Policy Manager Ian Appleyard talked us through the evidence base for Acupuncture and Mental Health and a flagship acupuncture project serving an NHS primary care network, and run by BAcC Members in Gloucester, UK. This ground-breaking service has been helping patients with depression, anxiety, and addiction problems and making a hugely positive impact in their community. You can watch this video on our social channels and website and share these slides with all the info. Don't forget to use the hashtag: and . Let us know in the comments if you feel acupuncture has a role to play in assisting with the growing mental health crisis and check out out more resources on NHS integration and the Inner Gloucester project on our website.