The CSP has announced that, from 1 July, it will not be providing insurance cover for members practising acupuncture for fertility-related treatments.
Physiotherapists who use acupuncture for fertility-related issues will be offered independent insurance through the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP).
The decision was prompted by the potentially high costs of any claims, explained Natalie Beswetherick, the society’s director of practice and development.
‘The CSP continually reviews areas of risk in respect of the practice of physiotherapy,’ she said. ‘It specifically identifies the areas that, should they arise as a claim against the scheme, may result in an increase in the cost of the annual indemnity premium to the CSP.
‘The society needs to strike a balance between accepting that risk and identifying ways to keep the premium affordable. It has been identified that the significant claims in the area of obstetrics and gynaecology, in general, may lead to an unacceptable risk exposure to the PLI scheme for this particular form of treatment.’
Physiotherapists who use acupuncture for fertility-related issues will instead be offered independent insurance cover through the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP).
This specialist network has arranged cover for it members through an independent broker.
Caspar Van Dongen, AACP chief executive, said the association was ‘disappointed’ that the CSP could no longer be providing insurance for members who use acupuncture for fertility issues.
He told Frontline: ‘There is a wealth of evidence to support the safe use of acupuncture for fertility problems.
‘Such is the evidence and success of acupuncture to treat fertility issues that the AACP run regular courses on the subject which are very well attended and increasingly popular.’
Author: Robert Millett
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