faq

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Due to the retirement of Jon. Leigh

Osteopathy and Naturopathic Medicine

is no longer available at

The Gillingham Clinic of Complementary Medicine

Jon. Leigh is still available for all Medico legal work.

We often get asked questions about our therapies and what happens during a consultation. We’ve answered some of the most common ones that we receive below:

  • Do I need to see my GP first?
  • Does osteopathic treatment hurt?
  • What happens at the first consultation?
  • Can I receive treatment on the NHS?
  • How do I know I am seeing a qualified practitioner?
  • May patients be seen by more than one practitioner?

Q1: Do I need to see my GP first?

A1: There is no need to consult your GP before attending an Osteopath. Most osteopaths these days work co-operatively with their local GP’s and it is the policy at Gillingham Clinic that when a person attends for Osteopath treatment then the GP is notified, by letter, as a matter or courtesy.

Q2: Does osteopathic treatment hurt?

A2: The truth is that osteopathy, whilst it is usually painless, may be a little uncomfortable. This is because movement is being restored to joints and sometime patients find this a little uncomfortable and that discomfort may last for a few hours.

Q3: What happens at the first consultation?

A3: At the initial consultation irrespective of the modality, a case history will be taken. This means asking a great number of questions some of which initially may not seem relevant. This is because Osteopathy and  Naturopathic  Medicine consider events that happened many years in the past may still be having an effect of the body today. This particularly relates to falls, accidents and other traumas that affect the physical body, likewise, past illnesses will affect the way the body functions today.

Q4: Can I receive treatment on the NHS?

A4: Unfortunately, most complementary therapies are not available on the NHS but an increasing number of health insurance companies and welfare organizations will now cover Osteopathic treatment.

Q5: How do I know I am seeing a qualified practitioner?

A5: With the exception of Osteopathy and Chiropractic, complementary medical practitioners are still regulated by voluntary organizations. The General Osteopathic Council and the General Chiropractic Council regulate Osteopathy and Chiropractic in the United Kingdom. Some other therapies are in the process of being statutorily regulated. All the practitioners working at the Gillingham Clinic are regulated by the lead bodies of the appropriate professional organization.

Q6: May patients be seen by more than one practitioner?

A6: Part of the ethos of the Gillingham Clinic is that patients may be internally referred when necessary. There is close co-operation between the various practitioners and when necessary case conferences are held so if a patient is being seen by more than one practitioner, then everyone is kept up to date.