PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Fracture liaison services and osteoporosis (4 March 2024)

That this House notes 50% of women and 20% of men over 50 will suffer a fracture due to osteoporosis; further notes 81,000 people of working age suffer fractures every year and that a third of sufferers will have to leave their jobs as a result; highlights the invaluable work of fracture liaison services (FLS) in identifying osteoporosis; expresses concern that, according to the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS), only 51% of NHS trusts in England have FLS and that many people who break bones will therefore attend A&E and be seen without their underlying osteoporosis being diagnosed and treated, leaving a massive risk that they will suffer further, more serious fractures; expresses further concern that the postcode lottery in the coverage of FLS means that annually around 90,000 people of all ages are missing out on vital osteoporosis treatment and are therefore at risk of further fractures; notes the cost of this to both the individual and the state; notes the Better Bones campaign which is led by the ROS and the Sunday Express, and supported by a range of charities, royal medical colleges and unions; supports the asks of the campaign that everyone over the age of 50 should be covered by a quality FLS, £30 million per year of additional investment in FLS to fill the gaps in population coverage and quality, and the appointment of a national clinical director for fractures in each UK nation; and calls on the Government to fund universal fracture liaison services.

Sponsored by:
Margaret Greenwood (Labour)