Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many sick days a year are caused by osteoporotic fractures; whether they have conducted any studies into what impact investment to provide universal, high-quality Fracture Liaison Services across England would have on this figure; and if no such study has been made, whether they intend to commission one.

23.4 million days were lost due to sickness absence in 2022 where the condition given was a musculoskeletal condition. This represented 12.6% of all days lost to sickness absence and was the third most common reason. Musculoskeletal conditions include back pain, neck and upper limb problems and other musculoskeletal conditions. This may include osteoporosis but sickness absence data for this specific condition is not held by the Department.

The International Osteoporosis Foundation’s report ‘BROKEN BONES, BROKEN LIVES: A roadmap to solve the fragility fracture crisis in Europe’ found that the total number of sick days taken after a fragility fracture in the United Kingdom in 2017 was over 2.5 million days. No studies have been carried out into what impact investment to provide universal, high-quality Fracture Liaison Services across England would have on sick days caused by osteoporotic fractures, and there are currently no plans to commission any.

In August 2023, we set out our initial plans for the Major Conditions Strategy within the Case for Change and our Strategic Framework. This initial report sets out what we have learned so far, and shares what we plan to focus on next to develop the final strategy. This included, together with NHS England, exploring further supporting the provision of Fracture Liaison Services.