Labour Ministers are facing mounting pressure to fulfill their commitments to standardize treatment for bone fractures and prevent thousands of annual deaths linked to osteoporosis. Campaigners are advocating for legislative changes to compel the government to ensure comprehensive National Health Service (NHS) coverage for osteoporosis services across England and Wales.
Following a campaign by The Mail on Sunday and the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS), former Health Secretary Wes Streeting had pledged before the election to establish universal fracture liaison services (FLS) by 2030. However, the ROS asserts that ministers have made no discernible progress in establishing the promised 60 new FLS clinics.
In response, the ROS and other advocacy groups are supporting a proposal to amend the government's Health Bill. This amendment would legally mandate the rollout of these clinics and require ministers to provide annual progress reports. Craig Jones, chief executive of the ROS, highlighted the critical nature of these services, stating that an estimated 2,000 people die each year from fractures that FLS could prevent. He noted that two years after the government's commitment to a nationwide rollout, patients are still awaiting a delivery plan, funding arrangements, or clear milestones.
Tory MP and hospital consultant Caroline Johnson, who has introduced the amendment, challenged ministers to honor their commitments to patients who trusted previous pledges. She stated that if the ministers are serious about their promise of universal, high-quality FLS by 2030, they should readily support the amendment.
In related news, Ruth Sunderland of the Daily Mail was recently awarded an OBE for her campaign to improve the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Sunderland herself was diagnosed with the condition in 2023 following an accident.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) affirmed the government's commitment to rolling out fracture liaison services by 2030, as outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan. The DHSC also announced ongoing interim measures, including an investment of 20 new state-of-the-art DEXA scanners nationwide, in addition to the 13 installed last year. These scanners are intended to facilitate earlier diagnosis of fragile bones and the prevention of serious fractures.