Fracture Liaison Services: National Coverage

Lord Patel Excerpts

Tuesday 27th October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

My noble friend is right to identify that there is a higher incidence of osteoporosis in women than men; it is more common. Some 80% of osteoporotic vertebral fractures are not identified and not managed appropriately, which again is unacceptable. That is why NIHR research has investigated the use of a new questionnaire to improve the diagnosis of these fractures in women. If it is successful—I hope it will be—it will reduce fracture risk and change clinical practice, particularly for older women with back pain.

[Lord Patel (CB)]

My Lords, in response to the question asked about the devolved Administrations, the Minister suggested we should interpret the data with caution. The caution is this: Scotland established one of the world’s first fracture liaison services, which is recognised globally as the most effective. Claims of a 50% reduction in repeat fractures might be exaggerated, but not by much. So what is the caution?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The caution—I am very happy to write to noble Lords with more details on this —is that it has been suggested that it has 100% coverage, but I am advised that that is not exactly the case.