HRH The Princess Royal, who has been the BSO’s valued Patron since 1984, will be met by Ms Hilary Wines, former Mayor of Southwark, representing the Mayor, Stephen Monger-Godfrey, Chairman of the BSO Board, and Charles Hunt, BSO
Principal and Chief Executive.

She will tour the new clinic building, which is Europe’s largest osteopathy clinic and which opened to patients on 1 April, meeting BSO staff and students and watching a demonstration of osteopathic treatment. She will also meet some of the donors who have contributed to date to the BSO’s £5m fundraising appeal to cover the costs of opening the new building.

From its new clinic premises the BSO, a registered charity, offers affordable and accessible osteopathic treatment to the public from 34 modern, climate-controlled treatment rooms. The new building is just a few minutes’ walk from the BSO’s previous clinic premises on Borough High Street, which will continue to be used as its teaching centre for students. This move has been part of the BSO’s planned growth to accommodate the growing numbers of student osteopaths gaining their education with the School. HRH The Princess Royal’s visit will end with a short speech and the unveiling of a plaque commemorating her visit.

“The new clinic will offer our patients the best possible environment for their treatment and we are very pleased that our Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, has agreed to officially open it,” says Charles Hunt, BSO Principal and Chief Executive.

• Journalists, photographers and film crews are invited to attend, but must register in advance for a press pass (please see contact details below). Photographs will also be available by email upon request for media outlets unable to send a photographer.

For press passes and more information please contact Debbie Hyde:
d.hyde@bso.ac.uk
07956 320 486

Notes to editors:

• The British School of Osteopathy (BSO), now a registered charity (no: 312873), was founded in 1917 with the first graduates emerging in 1925. More general information can be found at: www.bso.ac.uk

• Osteopathy is a primary healthcare system, complementary to other medical practices. It is suitable for almost anyone and can contribute to alleviating an enormous range of conditions. Osteopaths primarily work through the neuro-musculo-skeletal system, mostly on muscles and joints, and pay special attention to how the internal organs affect, and are affected by, that system.

• The BSO maintains an international reputation for academic excellence, postgraduate study, and being regularly asked to advise overseas osteopathy schools as they devise their own teaching programmes.

• The BSO is a member of GuildHE. Guild HE is the recognised representative organisation within the higher education sector, with members across universities, university colleges and specialist institutions. It is the key advocate for the importance of institutional diversity: members include many institutions with a specialist mission or subject focus, including major providers in art and design, music and the performing arts, agriculture, education and health.