People with osteoporosis are “paying the price” for foot-dragging by Health Secretary Wes Streeting on his promise to roll-out life saving services across the NHS, the Conservatives have claimed. Shadow Health Secretary Ed Argar said that if the Conservatives had won the last election they would be delivering on their pledge to deliver “fracture liaison services” across England.
The Sunday Express’s Better Bones campaign won commitments from the two parties to end the postcode lottery when it comes to these services which identify early signs of potentially lethal osteoporosis. The Royal Osteoporosis Society warns 90,000 people are missing out on vital treatment because only half of NHS trusts have the services in place.
There was grave disappointment there was no mention of the services in the latest NHS planning guidance.
Mr Argar said: “The Express has run a brilliant Better Bones campaign and deserves huge credit, alongside the Royal Osteoperosis Society, for championing this key issue for so many people. The Conservatives and Labour both pledged their support for this campaign ahead of the election.
“Wes Streeting now owes it to patients to get on with delivering on that promise quickly. We were serious when when we pledged to help end the postcode lottery for these life-changing and life-saving services, and would be rolling them out across the nation.
“People with osteoporosis will be paying the price for Wes not getting on with this faster.”
Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, warned of the consequences of delay, saying: “This year, another 76,000 people will break their hip and 20,000 of them will die. Half will have had a previous, less serious fracture which should have flagged them as needing bone drugs.
“These vital fracture clinics championed by the Sunday Express diagnose people early and save lives. If Wes Streeting publishes the promised roll-out plan, he’ll save tens of thousands of lives, while emptying our hospitals of people who belong safe at home.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Because of the dire state of the NHS this government inherited, patients around the country, including those suffering from osteoporosis, are waiting too long for care and treatment. But we will change this, with our continued commitment to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.
“In the meantime, we are investing in high-tech DEXA scanners, which are expected to provide up to 29,000 scans per year to ensure people with bone conditions get diagnosed earlier. We’ve also already set ambitious but achievable targets to cut waiting times – including for those with osteoporosis – from 18 months to a maximum of 18 weeks.”