𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Campaigners will attempt to change the law to end the scandal of the nation’s postcode lottery scandal when it comes to osteoporosis care. There is dismay at Labour’s lack of progress on delivering its pledge to ensure services are in place to check for osteoporosis in all parts of England when people show up with an initial break.

Conservative shadow health minister Caroline Johnson is proposing a change in the law which would force the Government to roll out “fracture liaison services” (FLS) across England. Labour ministers will now have to decide whether to back the amendment to the Health Bill or to whip MPs to vote against the implementation of their own policy.

The change in the law would force ministers to publish a delivery plan for FLS within 90 days. Only half of NHS Trusts have FLS in place, according to the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS).

Ms Johnson, who has worked as a consultant paediatrician, said: “Before the election, Labour promised patients that they would deliver universal fracture liaison services by 2030. Nearly two years on, there is still no plan, no milestones, no funding route and no clear accountability for getting this done. Ministers have repeated their commitment to universal fracture liaison services dozens of times to Parliament. This amendment simply asks them to turn those repeated assurances into a credible plan for delivery. Labour came into government promising change, but good intentions are not a substitute for a delivery plan. This amendment gives ministers an opportunity to turn their repeated commitments into practical action.”

Craig Jones, chief executive of ROS, said: “More than 4,000 people have died following fractures that these clinics prevent since ministers first promised nationwide rollout. Yet two years on, there is still no delivery plan, no clear funding route and no milestones for progress. Further delay means more bereaved families. This amendment simply asks the Government to explain how it intends to deliver a policy it has already promised more than 70 times. We’re not prescriptive about the route. Ministers could either support this amendment or publish their own implementation plan. What matters is that patients finally get the clarity they have been promised.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “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. But we’re also taking action in the meantime by investing in 20 new state-of-the-art DEXA scanners across the country, building on the first wave of 13 last year. These new machines will help diagnose fragile bones earlier and prevent painful, life-changing fractures – particularly among older people and women, who are disproportionately affected by osteoporosis.”