More than 100 leading NHS doctors have warned Health Secretary Wes Streeting that failing to honour his pre-Election commitment to urgently rollout screening clinics for osteoporosis risks causing thousands of preventable deaths.
In a letter shared exclusively with The Mail on Sunday, the medics and healthcare workers say tens of thousands of people with the bone-thinning disease are ‘slipping through the net’ because of a postcode lottery of care – and 2,500 may have needlessly died in the last 12 months alone – because of a failure by the Government to prioritise tackling the crisis.
Mr Streeting told this newspaper that one of his first acts in Government would be to publish a plan to rollout Fracture Liaison Services, or FLS, across all parts of the country.
These vital services, which require no new equipment, represent a gold standard in the early diagnosis of the condition and would mean everyone over 50 who breaks a bone could be screened for the disease and given bone-preserving drugs – potentially saving thousands of people from serious injury, disability and an early death.
But a year on from that promise, the Government now says FLS will not be available everywhere until 2030.
The Government reiterated its commitment to funding the clinics in its 10-Year Health Plan, published on Thursday, but the doctors say any further delay will cause ‘harm’ to patients – and say officials have still failed to reveal how they plan to achieve the rollout.
The doctors, part of the Royal Osteoporosis Society’s clinical network who are backing the charity’s campaign for universal FLS, wrote: ‘Late diagnosis of osteoporosis leads to avoidable fractures, loss of independence, long-term disability and, in many cases, premature death.
‘A properly functioning FLS catches patients after their first fracture, enabling early diagnosis and access to proven, cost-effective treatments. They are a classic example of driving the shift from sickness to prevention.
More than 100 leading NHS doctors have warned Health Secretary Wes Streeting that failing to honour his pre-Election commitment to urgently rollout screening clinics for osteoporosis risks causing thousands of preventable deaths (stock image)
Osteoporosis affects around 3.5million people in the UK and causes bones to thin and weaken, leading to fractures (stock image)
‘However, the current postcode lottery for FLS provision means tens of thousands are slipping through the net. Each year that this remains unaddressed, an estimated 2,500 more people die following hip fractures that could have been prevented.
‘Any delay in implementation of this important policy will cost lives.’
Shadow Health Secretary Edward Argar also called on Mr Streeting to deliver his pledge ‘right away, with no more delays’.
Mr Argar said: ‘I’m calling on the Health Secretary to set out an action plan with a clear timetable, starting now, for the roll-out of FLS to all areas, something which will not only help thousands of people with osteoporosis but will also be saving the NHS money within a few years.’
Osteoporosis affects around 3.5million people in the UK and causes bones to thin and weaken, leading to fractures.
Most people are only diagnosed after breaking several bones, but in hospitals which have FLS, patients attending with fractures can be screened for osteoporosis with a bone density test called a DEXA scan.
Only half of NHS Trusts in England currently have FLS, and rolling it out is estimated to cost £30million.
Wes Streeting (pictured) said one of his first acts in Government would be to publish a plan to rollout FLS, across all parts of the country but many feel disappointed
Osteoporosis-related fractures have cost the British economy more than £142million since last July.
The Mail on Sunday has been running a War on Osteoporosis campaign to make FLS universal.
Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: ‘This is a preventative model that’s tried and tested, ready to go, and capable of delivering savings before the middle of this Parliament.
‘We welcome inclusion in the 10 Year Plan and now call for a speedy implementation plan so we can protect patients and save lives.’
