Breaking point: Government will fail on fracture services pledge without urgent action, medics warn
The Government will break its pledge to deliver life-saving brittle-bone clinics across the country by 2030 unless immediate action is taken, leading medics have warned.
A further 59 fracture liaison services, crucial for the early diagnosis of osteoporosis, are needed to meet the target but the Society of Radiographers say they are ‘worried’ about delays.
Osteoporosis affects more than 3.5 million people in the UK – nearly two-thirds of whom are women. Many do not realise they have the condition until they break a bone. Charities say more early detection centres could save the NHS millions as well as saving thousands of lives.
The Royal Osteoporosis Society estimates 2,500 people die every year from the debilitating effects of preventable hip fractures.
Following a campaign by The Mail on Sunday and the Royal Osteoporosis Society, Health Secretary Wes Streeting made a pre-election promise to end a postcode lottery and deliver universal fracture liaison services by 2030. It was then confirmed in the NHS ten-year plan last summer. However the Society of Radiographers warn that not enough is being done to deliver on the pledge.
‘Our members have become increasingly worried about the delay to the promised rollout,’ says its president, Katie Thompson.
‘Calculations show that unless the roll-out starts by this summer, ministers will find it impossible to meet their 2030 deadline.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting (pictured) made a pre-election promise to end a postcode lottery and deliver universal fracture liaison services by 2030
‘These clinics can’t be set up overnight. They require time and planning to launch so they can become fully staffed, including the radiography workforce.
‘Sadly, our members see patients whose lives have been shattered by devastating and disabling fractures that could have been prevented through early diagnosis and treatment.
‘We respectfully ask ministers to publish the roll-out plan, before their 2030 target becomes unachievable.’
The Department of Health said last night: ‘We are committed to rolling out fracture liaison services by 2030 – it is a key commitment.’
