𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Campaigners fighting to ensure more lives are not lost to bone disease want Wes Streeting’s replacement as Health Secretary to take immediate action to stop more people dying of osteoporosis. The Royal Osteoporosis Society claims 4,000 people – most of whom are women – have lost their lives since Mr Streeting first made his pledge to end a postcode lottery which sees thousands of those with the disease miss out on vital treatment.

There is deep frustration that around half of NHS trusts lack “fracture liaison services” (FLS) to provide basic checks for osteoporosis when someone suffers their first break. It is estimated that 3.5 million people – more than the entire population of Wales – have the disease.

There was delight two years ago when Mr Streeting backed the Sunday Express Better Bones campaign and pledged to ensure universal access to FLS by 2030 but dismay at the lack of a delivery plan.

James Murray has been appointed Health Secretary in the wake of Mr Streeting announcing he had “lost confidence” in Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership of the Labour party and quitting. Campaigners are calling on him to “save lives and money” and “tackle stark health inequalities” by delivering on the stalled pledge.

Lord Black, who co-chairs Parliament’s all-party group on osteoporosis and bone health, told the House of Lords that “osteoporosis is one of the most urgent threats to our ageing population, causing half of women and one fifth of men over 50 to suffer fractures”.

He said: “Wes Streeting said the rollout plan would be one of his first acts in Government. But we are still waiting. As a result over those two years, 4,000 people have died needlessly following hip fractures that a prompt roll-out of FLS would have prevented. The new Secretary of State has the rarest of opportunities: an easy win in a difficult brief, that will save lives and money and tackle stark health inequalities. What is not to like? The policy is agreed, the model is proven and the sector is ready and raring to go. What we need now is not another promise but action, a timetable, resources and the start of delivery.”

Warning of the consequences of not delivering the Conservative peer said: “Over 2,000 people die each year following hip fractures that FLS prevent. Since the election, the NHS has already spent an estimated £150million treating fractures FLS could have prevented – almost double the cost of FLS rollout.

“On any credible path to implementation, we would have expected 24 of the 60 NHS Trusts missing FLS to be covered by now. Today, the number stands at zero.

“Safe, effective medication – costing around £1 per week – exists to stop this and save lives. But today, FLS are missing in half of NHS Trusts, and that position has not changed since the election.”

Labour’s Baroness Donaghy warned of “institutional paralysis” but Government minister Lord Hendy insisted the 2030 commitment remained in place.

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.

“The 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.”