NHS: Fracture Liaison Services

Baroness Altmann Excerpts

Monday 5th February 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Markham (Con)]

I believe that the latest number is 57%, but the general point stands that that leaves 43% which are making other types of provision. The work we are doing right now is trying to understand the success of those versus what we see as prudent with that 57%. That is the case we are making and the case that Minister Caulfield was referring to as well. I believe personally that it is a strong case, so it is something that, as I say, we are looking to work further on.

[Baroness Altmann (Con)]

My Lords, I apologise for adding to the pressure on my noble friend, but half of all over-50s women will suffer fractures due to osteoporosis, and this affects 50,000 working-age women each year, yet too often this disease is just stereotyped as affecting old women. The menopause increases fracture risks for women in their 50s, when many are in the prime of their life. Might such mistaken stereotyping about old women explain the near total absence of osteoporosis from the Government’s laudable women’s health strategy? Will we perhaps see women’s health hubs referring women to fracture liaison services, with further progress in the forthcoming Budget?

[Lord Markham (Con)]

Again, the use of hubs and their importance for getting people back to work is recognised. That is why in 2023, in the major conditions strategy, we announced the £400 million workforce programme to get 100,000 people with employee support back into work. It is absolutely recognised that what we can do with fracture liaison clinics is a major help. We are also looking at digital therapeutics—the app is close to my heart—that can help with MSK as well. There are a range of measures.