Teesside University Chiropractic

Community waiting lists for MSK treatment have risen from 333,000 to over 393,000 in the past year alone. For many people that means months of waiting while struggling to work, sleep, or get through the day.

The Government's GIRFT pilot is a real step forward. Community-based MSK services can reduce hospital pressure, improve outcomes, and help people return to work sooner. That recognition is welcome and long overdue, but the pilot reached around 7,500 people, and the waiting list has 393,000.

One immediate way to expand capacity is to make better use of the existing regulated MSK workforce already present in communities around the country.
Chiropractors are embedded in communities across the UK, able to see patients quickly, and BCA research suggests the profession could deliver at least 100,000 additional appointments each year, potentially unlocking up to £400 million in productivity gains by helping people back into work sooner.

As BCA President Tim Button said: "Fully integrating chiropractic into NHS pathways, such as granting AHP Status, would not be a marginal gain. It's a practical, immediate way to drastically cut MSK wait times and keep people in work."

Integrating chiropractic more fully into NHS pathways offers a practical, scalable solution, one that can deliver immediate benefits for patients, the workforce, and the wider economy.

We're here, we're ready, and we want to help.

Read our full response here: https://chiropractic-uk.co.uk/news/unlocking-msk-capacity-our-response-governments-girft-pilot

📢 Leadership Update from WFC:

We are proud to announce that Dr. Ryan Coster has been elected as the 19th President of the World Federation of Chiropractic.

The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) is pleased to announce the election of Dr. Ryan Coster, from Moncton, New Brunswick (Canada), as its 19th President. This appointment recognizes a career defined by sustained leadership, governance excellence, and service to the chiropractic profession at both regional and international levels.

The WFC confirms the resignation of its former President, Dr. Kendrah da Silva, and acknowledges her valued contributions throughout her tenure. We thank Dr. da Silva for her dedication and wish her every success in future endeavors. Dr. Coster’s election reflects the Board’s confidence in his ability to lead the organization during a period of continued global growth, collaboration, and integration within healthcare systems.

Dr. Coster brings extensive governance and executive leadership experience to the presidency. Appointed by the Canadian Chiropractic Association, he has served for several years on the WFC Board of Directors representing North America (Canada), including senior executive roles as Secretary-Treasurer and Vice President. In these positions, he played a key role in organizational oversight, financial stewardship, strategic planning, and policy development contributing significantly to the WFC’s global advocacy and governance framework. He further strengthened his governance expertise by completing the Chartered Director (CDir) designation program, equipping him with advanced skills in board leadership and strategic oversight.

At the Canadian regional level, Dr. Coster has served as President of the New Brunswick Chiropractors’ Association since 2018. In this role, he has led regulatory engagement, strengthened professional standards, supported collaborative models of care, and advanced the association’s governance capacity. His leadership has emphasized accountability, transparency, and constructive engagement with governments, regulators, and healthcare partners.

While governance and leadership have defined much of his career, Dr. Coster maintains a strong connection to clinical practice having founded one of New Brunswick's largest multidisciplinary clinics. His contributions to healthcare leadership and public service have been recognized through prestigious honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and the Canadian Chiropractic Association Public Service Award.

As President of the WFC, Dr. Coster is committed to advancing a vision of chiropractic that is evidence-based, people-centered, interprofessional, collaborative and fully integrated within modern healthcare systems. His leadership will focus on strengthening international partnerships, supporting member associations, and enhancing the profession’s role in improving global musculoskeletal health.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Coster on this important role!