The government has acknowledged it lacks a concrete plan to meet its commitment for nationwide osteoporosis screening clinics by 2030, a pledge initially made by former Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
Analysis by the Royal Osteoporosis Society indicates that for the 2030 target to be achieved, 24 NHS trusts would need to establish new clinics. However, since the election, no such clinics have been created. Responding to parliamentary inquiries, Baroness Merron stated that "The Government has not set annual milestones for the rollout of fracture liaison services (FLS)."
The current Health Secretary, James Murray, has not publicly addressed the FLS initiative since his appointment last month, and the Royal Osteoporosis Society reports that he has not responded to requests for a meeting.
Osteoporosis affects nearly 3.5 million people in the UK, primarily post-menopausal women, weakening bones and increasing fracture risk. The Royal Osteoporosis Society estimates that preventable hip fractures result in approximately 2,500 deaths annually. The Mail on Sunday and the Royal Osteoporosis Society have been advocating for the full NHS rollout of FLS for two years.
"To have any hope of rolling out these clinics to every area by 2030, work would need to start immediately," said Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society. "So it’s incredibly worrying to learn no milestones have been set and there doesn’t seem to be any plan in place to make progress. It’s clear this policy is in serious trouble."
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care affirmed the government's commitment, stating, "This Government remains committed to rolling out fracture liaison services by 2030, as set out in our 10 Year Health Plan and the Women’s Health Strategy." The department also noted an investment in 20 new DEXA scanners, building upon a previous wave of 13 scanners last year.