Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for their very comprehensive presentation on the work they are doing.

With regard to the services currently being provided, the delegates said some chiropractors use their own X-ray equipment and others make referrals.

Could I get clarification on medical indemnity insurance? Does each practising chiropractor have professional indemnity insurance? In particular, do those who are doing extras and giving reports have professional indemnity insurance? Will the witnesses outline the number of people in total who are practising chiropractors in this country? What is the number in real terms? Will the witnesses explain the number who have and use X-ray equipment? The issue arises that if people do not have X-ray equipment, to whom would they normally refer people? Would they refer people to hospitals or private providers of X-rays? I ask about professional indemnity insurance because I came across a person providing an X-ray service but when an issue arose, it turned out the person did not have that professional indemnity insurance. I am not talking about a chiropractor in this case, just in case anybody is worried about it. An error was made in the case I mention and it is a major issue. I have been very involved in legislation relating to this in the past four or five years to ensure all healthcare professionals have insurance. It should be clarified.

I presume the amendment of the proposed regulations would be quite minor in order to include chiropractors. It is not a case of drafting new regulations but rather including rather than excluding chiropractors. I thank the witnesses for the presentation.