NEWS FROM
THE IO
iO 2021 Professional Census results published
The iO Professional Census is a nationwide survey that collects a wealth of information about osteopaths and osteopathic practice and is the most comprehensive survey of its kind.
It aims to gather practical and useful information about osteopaths and how we practice. The third Census wave was completed in 2021 and has proved invaluable in showing key trends in education and practice.
The 2021 Census was taken at a time when we were still operating in the shadow of the pandemic, and so its findings into the ‘health status of the profession are all the more insightful as we look forward to how we can grow the profession, increase access and continue to gain recognition for our expertise and contribution to patient care.
It shows that the profession has fared well with patient numbers, and subsequently salaries have remained relatively unchanged despite the restrictions during COVID. Since these findings, we hear reports of patient numbers only increasing as NHS services continue to struggle post-pandemic.
‘… its findings into the ‘health status of the profession are all the more insightful as we look forward to how we can grow the profession, increase access and continue to gain recognition for our expertise and contribution to patient care..’
CEO Maurice Cheng said:
‘It is a matter of concern that there is a lack of growth in the number of osteopaths. We have an ageing demographic, with a significant proportion of osteopaths nearing, or considering, retirement within the next five years. To address this, we are working closely with the educational institutions, as part of the Osteopathic Development Group and its subgroup the Osteopathic Communications Network, to promote osteopathy as a rewarding career choice.
We see again the uneven distribution of osteopaths across the country, a long-standing issue, in part due to the concentration of osteopathic courses in London and the South East.
At the iO we aim to encourage the growth of new osteopathic courses outside the south of England, to widen the geographic distribution of education available. This will we believe ultimately improve access by patients to osteopathic care.’
To read the full report click here.