History and Ethos

(By Duncan Scobie DO, clinic principal.)

The KPC started when I opened my osteopathic practice in the ancient market town of Helston, Cornwall in 1990. Initially I had a zero patient base, and now there are approximately 10000 patients registered with the clinic

As patient numbers grew I trained in new skills such as acupuncture (dry needling), harmoniques and ultrasound therapy, all to increase the treatment scope and effectiveness. As the clinic grew further in patient numbers I added other health practitioners such as a cranial osteopath, a chiropractor, a homeopath, a naturopath and a psychotherapist. This expansion of practioners and treatments available has helped to increase the scope of treatments available and the effectiveness of the treatment. It is fairly unusual to find a chiropractor and osteopath working together but I feel this has only broadened our treatment potential.

We work independently but equally we have the advantage of being able to cross refer and discuss case histories that may require a broader spectrum of knowledge and skills.

I very much believe that in life you should treat people in a way that you want to be treated yourself and I apply this to my clinic ethos. I feel it is important the patient knows what is wrong with them, what to expect from the treatment, and to tell us what they want from the treatment. We try to be as affordable as possible and usually the osteopathic treatments are ¾ hr long (the other practitioners may have different length treatments). A reasonable time is required for relaxed, personal and effective consultation. I would never want a patient in my clinic to feel as if they were being treated on a metaphoric conveyor belt.

At the KPC, I also feel it very important to know our own limitations. We cannot treat all conditions and sometimes some conditions we would expect to improve, do not. In such cases there is a need to refer for further tests or opinions. The vast majority of patients come from recommendations rather than advertising, this drives us to get the improvements or help that patient's desire.

“WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. YOU ARE NOT HERE FOR US!”