Marjon's brand-new Osteopathy clinic is offering FREE appointments to all

Released: 07.10.19

A brand-new Osteopathy clinic has been opened at Plymouth Marjon University, which is offering free appointments to everyone, until the end of December 2019. The state-of-the-art facility is being run by students on the Masters of Osteopathic Medicine degree at Marjon, as part of their 1000 hours clinical training required to complete the course.

The clinic is open to the public, and anyone is welcomed and encouraged to book an appointment for treatments of a wide range of healthcare issues. These include, but are not limited to joint pain, neuromuscular conditions, digestive conditions, headaches and migraines.

Only graduates from a degree that is recognised by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) are permitted by law to practise as an osteopath; Marjon’s Osteopathic Medicine degree is recognised by the GOsC, meaning that graduates are eligible to apply for registration with them.

Osteopathy is a gentle and effective hands-on approach to healthcare, based on the principle that the way your body moves influences how it functions. Over 30,000 people every day visit an osteopath suffering from a variety of conditions including neck or back pain, joint or muscular pain, sports injuries, recurring headaches and more.

Rosie Russell, Lecturer Practitioner at Marjon and practising Osteopath, is one of the tutors that oversee the clinic.

“At the moment, we have nine third-year students providing treatments, but our first and second-year students observe the practice and get an idea of what they’ll be doing in the future, and observation is a key part of their course.”

“One of the best things about this clinic is that it gives the students a chance to get some really valuable hands-on experience, literally, before they head out into the working world. They’re working professionally before they even leave Marjon. We get referrals from the NHS, and are able to refer to the NHS, which is indispensable experience to have as a student.”

Rob Herd, a third-year Osteopathy student, said: “practical application of osteopathic techniques in my third year has brought the whole course together. Seeing positive patient outcomes in the clinic makes it all worthwhile. Alongside my knowledge, my confidence has developed significantly since starting work in the clinic.”

Georgia Slater, another student osteopath working in the clinic as part of her placement, said: “I really enjoy the practical elements of the course, it gives me invaluable experience for when I graduate. The support from tutors at Marjon is outstanding, help is always available whenever you need it.

“The clinic being available on site has provided me with a safe but professional environment to learn and progress in, and I’m excited to develop throughout the remainder of my course here.”

An initial appointment takes approximately 90 minutes, and patients can expect to get a full case history, examination, and treatment in the first appointment. Follow up appointments are 45 minutes, and involve observation and treatment, which is all supervised and discussed by a Clinic Tutor.

If you’d like to book an appointment at Plymouth Marjon University’s Osteopathy Clinic, head over to https://www.marjon.ac.uk/osteoclinic to book.

Find out more about M.Ost. Master of Osteopathic Medicine at Marjon