27/08/2022
By BAcC (Sharon & Sue are full members of the BAcC).
We were concerned to hear and read today’s story about the England footballer, Ellen White, and her experience following acupuncture treatment, which resulted in a punctured lung. We would like to express our best wishes to Ellen for a total recovery.
Whilst we do not know the full details of the case in question, we would like to emphasise the importance of seeking treatment from a properly qualified acupuncture practitioner.
The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) is the largest UK professional body for Traditional Acupuncture, which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). We set the highest standards of professional practice for the acupuncture profession in the UK.
The British Acupuncture Accreditation Board (BAAB) fosters and monitors high quality educational and professional standards, so that the general public can be assured that graduates from BAAB accredited programmes are knowledgeable, reflective, competent and safe acupuncture practitioners. Our BAAB professionally qualified members are all degree-level trained in acupuncture (a minimum of three years and 3,600 hours of training), or equivalent.
Our members have had full anatomy and physiology training with an extensive focus on risk and safety. Our members have also undergone at least 400 hours of in-person clinical training and, following qualification, are expected to carry out regular risk assessments and yearly continuous professional development (CPD).
Our safety standard is incredibly important to us and protecting the general public is a priority.
We are always keen to raise the profile of traditional acupuncture and, in light of today’s story, would welcome the opportunity to highlight the critical importance of upholding standards of practice for acupuncture.
For more information, please contact Caroline Hedges, BAcC Communications Manager.
