Musculoskeletal Health

Baroness Donaghy Excerpts

Thursday 30th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I pay tribute to the noble Lord’s campaigning, which is impressive in maintaining focus on what I regard as a very important area. He may be aware, but I draw it to his and your Lordships’ House’s attention, that a Written Ministerial Statement about addressing urgent challenges was laid today. It outlines the fact that planning guidance is soon to be published—it was not published as I entered the Chamber—and will reflect patient priorities that are important to those who have to contend with osteoporosis. These include cutting waiting times, improving access to primary care—bearing in mind that 30% of GP appointments are related to MSK—and improving urgent and emergency care. On the point the noble Lord asks about, as I have said before, we are working closely to consider a whole range of options to provide better quality and access to important preventive services as part of ending the postcode lottery. I will be pleased to keep him informed.

[Baroness Donaghy (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Blackstone (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the King’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard and Deputy Chief Whip (Baroness Wheeler) (Lab)]

We will hear from the noble Baroness, Lady Donaghy.

[Baroness Donaghy (Lab)]

I am a member of the APPG on osteoporosis, and we are very worried that fracture liaison services have been deprioritised in the recent NHS planning guidance. We know that the pump-priming transformation fund works because we have seen it working in Wales. It saves lives, as the noble Lord, Lord Black, said, releases people into the labour market, releases beds in hospitals and improves quality of life for thousands of people. Can the Minister give us an assurance? If this milestone has been missed in the planning guidance, we need urgent clarity on how the 2030 target will be reached.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

My noble friend raises a number of important points. In reference to the planning guidance, I hope she will understand that at this stage that is leaked information and I am therefore not in a position to comment. The Secretary of State has confirmed that planning guidance will be published in due course. I agree that patients around the country are waiting too long for care and treatment. I draw my noble friend’s attention to the plan for change, which will get the health service back on its feet. Part of the elective recovery plan, published just a few weeks ago, sets out funding to boost DEXA, which is bone density scanning capacity to support improvements in bone health and early diagnosis, including for osteoporosis. That will provide an estimated 29,000 extra scans per year, so I hope my noble friend will take heart from that node of direction.