We will always try to accommodate requests to see a particular osteopath or an osteopath of the same gender. However we cannot guarantee that the tutor supervising the student will be of the same gender.

It is fine to bring a friend or family member with you. If you need someone to help you communicate clearly or understand your student osteopath, it is very important that you organize someone to come with you who can fulfil that role. Please note, some of the questions in the initial consultations can be personal in nature. 

As you will be asked to undress to your underwear for examination, it is best to wear underwear that you will be comfortable in. If you would like a gown to wear, please ask your student osteopath. If you are not keen to undress, wearing loose-fitting separates may help with this – for example a roomy top and skirt rather than a dress.

You will be asked to undress to your underwear if you are happy to do so. This allows the student osteopath to examine you and consider the relevance of different parts of the body to your presenting problem. Gowns are available if you would prefer to wear one. If you do not feel comfortable undressing then please let your student osteopath know.

See our ‘What to expect?’ page for details.

There is no need for a GP referral to the UCO Clinic. In the majority of instances we can treat patients at the UCO Clinic, but occasionally it may be necessary to refer you to your GP for further tests or evaluation before a diagnosis can be made or any treatment is undertaken. 

If you need to cancel your appointment, please call 020 7089 5360 or email us as soon as possible so that we can make the appointment slot available to another patient. Please note that if you have booked into our Associates Clinic and wish to cancel within 24 hours of the appointment time, there will be a cancellation fee amounting to 50% of the appointment fee.

Osteopathic techniques range from very gentle soft tissue work to high velocity thrusts (HVT) to manipulate the positioning of your body. Your student osteopath will talk through different treatment options, and let you know if a treatment is likely to be uncomfortable – either at the time or after your appointment. You can then decide whether you are happy to go ahead or not. Your practitioner will ask your consent throughout your appointment before they perform a technique. If at any stage you feel uncomfortable or unsure you have the right to withdraw your consent.

Osteopaths do not tend to ‘prescribe’ a set number of treatments at the outset, but will assess at each appointment the impact that has been made and adjust accordingly. In most cases however, your osteopath will be able to give you an estimate of how long you might expect to have your symptoms and how long you may need treatment for to alleviate your problem. Some patients require only one appointment and go away with a condition happily resolved – in very different situations we have patients who receive regular treatment for long-term or chronic conditions, to help manage their pain.

See the ‘What Can it Help?‘ page. 

Our modern premises on Southwark Bridge Road are located on the ground floor and are fully accessible to wheelchair users and patients with limited mobility. Our 34 treatment rooms are air conditioned and have been designed speicifically with the needs of osteopaths and patients in mind.

As treatment in our clinic is already heavily subsidised, we are unable to organise and pay for sign language support for patients. We are always happy to work with signers who come with patients who are deaf, but can also be creative to make treatment possible – such as writing out questions and answers, and using online resources where needed. We do have a portable induction loop to use in treatment rooms for patients who have hearing aids. Please ask at reception if this would be helpful to you.

The UCO linic is located at 98-118 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 0BQ. We are just a few minutes’ walk from Borough tube station (Northern Line) and the 344 bus stops nearby. A map and directions can be found on our Find and Contact Us page.

See our Fees page for details.

Many health insurance providers won’t cover treatment provided by student osteopaths, so you must check with them in advance. Where this is an issue, you may be able to book into our Demonstration or Associates Clinics, where appointments are with a qualified osteopath.

We do not charge for children’s or paediatic appointments, and treatment in the majority of our community clinics, including the Manna clinic and Lucy Brown House, is offered free of charge. Thanks to the generosity of certain trusts and foundations, we are also able to offer free treatment for people living with HIV through our Chapman clinic and the Royal Free Hospital.

See our Fees page for details.

If you need to cancel your appointment, please call 020 7089 5360 or email us as soon as possible so that we can make the appointment slot available to another patient. Please note that if you have booked into our Associates Clinic and wish to cancel within 24 hours of the appointment time, there will be a cancellation fee amounting to 50% of the appointment fee.

See our ‘Community Partnerships‘ page for details.

See our Fees page for details.

We value patient feedback about any aspect of your relationship with the UCO Clinic. Information about how give feedback or make a complaint can be found on our Regulation page.