Campaigners are pushing for a change in the law to end the postcode lottery in osteoporosis care, as Labour faces pressure over its failure to deliver on a pre-election promise. The party pledged to ensure fracture liaison services (FLS) are available across England for patients presenting with an initial break, but progress has stalled.
Conservative Amendment Targets Labour's Inaction
Shadow health minister Caroline Johnson, a consultant paediatrician, has proposed an amendment to the Health Bill that would compel the government to publish a delivery plan for FLS within 90 days. Labour ministers must now decide whether to support the amendment or whip MPs to vote against implementing their own policy.
Only half of NHS trusts currently have FLS in place, according to the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS). Johnson stated: "Before the election, Labour promised patients universal fracture liaison services by 2030. Nearly two years on, there is still no plan, no milestones, no funding route and no clear accountability."
Rising Death Toll Sparks Urgency
Craig Jones, chief executive of ROS, highlighted the human cost: "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." He added that the amendment simply asks the government to explain how it intends to deliver a policy it has promised over 70 times.
Government Response
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. We’re also investing in 20 new state-of-the-art DEXA scanners to help diagnose fragile bones earlier."
