One hundred doctors have called on Health Secretary Wes Streeting to make good on his election promise to fund osteoporosis screening clinics.
In a letter sent to the Minister, shared exclusively with The Mail on Sunday, the clinicians have called for the Government to prioritise treatment for the bone thinning disease as part of the NHS‘s new year plans to avoid ‘widespread harm’.
During the General Election campaign, Mr Streeting told this newspaper that one of his first acts in Government would be to give every part of the country access to Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), the gold standard in early diagnosis of osteoporosis.
The letter says: ‘Following the [election] pledge, the whole clinical community in this field has mobilised to help you make it an early success of the new government. We fear that, without a national mandate… good intentions may well come to nothing, resulting in widespread harm and spiralling pressures on the NHS and social services.’
The doctors are now calling for the FLS roll-out to be included in upcoming Planning Guidance, which sets priorities, targets and actions for NHS Trusts between April 2025 to March 2026.
Osteoporosis affects more than 3.5 million people in the UK but many do not realise they have it until they break a bone, by which time it is too late for preventative treatment.
Fracture Liaison Services aim to predict bone breaks earlier in patients’ lives with a bone density test called a DEXA scan.
If signs of osteoporosis are spotted, patients can be given bone-preserving drugs sooner, leading to fewer fractures.
One hundred doctors have called on Health Secretary Wes Streeting to make good on his election promise to fund osteoporosis screening clinics
Osteoporosis affects more than 3.5 million people in the UK but many do not realise they have it until they break a bone. File image
However, only half of hospital trusts offer the service, meaning millions miss out on screening.
The Mail on Sunday launched a campaign last year to expand Fracture Liaison Services to every part of England, backed by the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
It was spearheaded by the Mail’s Group Business Editor Ruth Sunderland after her own osteoporosis diagnosis. More than 50 MPs and lords backed the campaign earlier this month, writing in The Mail on Sunday they said: ‘With the level of political consensus around these services, now has never been a better time to honour the commitment to change and save lives.’
The latest call from doctors comes after this paper revealed last week that 36,000 hospital beds could be freed up every winter by fulfilling the pledge.
Studies show that without Government action, people with osteoporosis will suffer 74,000 preventable fractures by 2030, including 31,000 life-threatening hip fractures.
This will take up 750,000 bed days, hitting hopes of reducing waiting lists. Universal FLS will save the NHS £440 million over five years.
Campaigners warn that if FLS is not included in the NHS 2025 list of priorities it could lead to thousands of preventable deaths.
‘If Fracture Liaison Services aren’t included, nothing will
change for at least another year, perhaps ever,’ says Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
‘In that scenario, we’ll see another 2,500 needless deaths every year from broken hips which could have been prevented.
‘Thousands of people’s lives depend on Wes Streeting putting his promise into action in next month’s planning guidance.’
A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said planning guidance would be published in the New Year and added: ‘Patients around the country, including those suffering from osteoporosis, are waiting too long for care and treatment. Our Plan for Change will get the health service back on its feet and make it fit for the future.’