Mariella Frostrup, the broadcaster and Royal Osteoporosis Society ambassador, has called on Health Secretary Wes Streeting to honour his election pledge to make fracture liaison services universal across England. The services, which identify those at risk of broken bones due to osteoporosis, are currently subject to a postcode lottery, with many patients unable to access them.
Frostrup warned that the condition disproportionately affects women, particularly during peri-menopause and menopause, and that the absence of these services leads to tens of thousands of life-changing injuries. She said cuts to women's health budgets often exacerbate the problem, and urged Streeting to prioritise the pledge as he prepares NHS planning guidance for 2025/26.
New research by Lane, Clark and Peacock, commissioned by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, estimates that working-age people suffer 58,000 broken bones due to osteoporosis each year, costing employers around £130 million annually in sick days and carer absences. This equates to 1.5 million lost work days, including one million sick days and 500,000 carer days.
The Government has committed to 100% coverage of fracture liaison services by 2030 and recently announced funding for up to 13 new bone density scanners, providing an estimated 29,000 additional scans. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the Government is 'spearheading the battle against cruel conditions like osteoporosis' and that the new scanners will help diagnose patients earlier and prevent fractures.
Frostrup, who also chairs the Menopause Mandate campaign group, stressed that diagnosis is key, and that bone medications and HRT can be invaluable. She called on Streeting to honour his promise to avoid continued needless disability and economic costs.
