Fracture Liaison Services

Baroness Altmann Excerpts

Tuesday 13th October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The noble Baroness makes a good point, and we are now including menopause in the NHS health check for those over 40. That will be a very good place to do that, because it will identify where women should speak up. One in three women are likely to have osteoporosis, compared with one in five men.

[Baroness Altmann (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, fractures caused by osteoporosis cost businesses about £160 million a year, yet progress on fracture prevention services has stalled, with patients, NHS and employers losing out through this delay. Can the Minister, who I know cares deeply about this issue, give the House a date for the rollout plan to reassure everyone that the Government intend to get delivery back on track for the 2030 universal coverage deadline?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I do not accept the analysis on rolling back—we are going forward compared with where we started. I understand the frustration, which we all share; however, my officials are progressing policy options, including the upcoming frailty and dementia modern service framework, through which we can set local targets for ICBs, for example. We will be led by evidence on that, because we want to improve health and care for what is, as the noble Baroness says, a very important cohort.