ACCP update: Safer Care Victoria Review and COAG
Safer Care Victoria review finds no adverse events from chiropractic spinal care of infants and children.
Federal, State and Territory Health Ministers met in Perth yesterday and today for the COAG Health Council (CHC) meeting to discuss a range of national health issues including spinal manipulation on children. The meeting was chaired by the Western Australian Minister for Health and Mental Health, the Hon Roger Cook MLA.
The ACCP is pleased with the decision made at COAG to refer the review of spinal manipulation of children under 12 years of age to the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) for further consideration. It is apparent that the Health Ministers have not endorsed the recommendations in the Safer Care Victoria report. The Safer Care Victoria review indicates that:
Chiropractic spinal treatment for infants and children is extremely safe with no adverse events found.
Chiropractic spinal treatment for infants and children reported by respondents to have helped 98% of children
99.7% of respondents reported a positive experience with chiropractic spinal care of their child
The ACCP is concerned that some of the Safer Care Victoria recommendations do not reflect the data obtained and also do not reflect the current state of evidence relating to care of children.
The ACCP is in the process of contacting the AHMAC on your behalf in order to represent you as the AHMAC considers the Safer Care Victoria review. It is important that this process is guided by chiropractors with paediatric training.
Decision at COAG
“Today Health Ministers considered the independent review commissioned by the Victorian Minister for Health, undertaken by Safer Care Victoria (SCV) regarding the effectiveness and safety of chiropractic spinal manipulation of children under 12 years for any condition or symptom.
Ministers considered a number of recommendations, including increasing penalties for advertising offences under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, where a registered practitioner claims benefits of spinal manipulation in children that have no evidence base.
Ministers agreed to refer the findings and recommendations of this review to the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) for further consideration and next steps”.
In light of the Safer Care Victoria review finding that there have been no case of harm as a result of chiropractic spinal care of infants and children, the ACCP will be calling on the CBA to remove their interim recommendation regarding spinal manipulation under 2 years of age.
The ACCP hasprepared this infographic poster detailing the findings of the Safer Care Victoria review for you to use as a poster/flyer/handout and to post on your website, email to your patients and share with our medical colleagues as well as social media.
Download print friendly version here
