Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that osteoporosis in women is not underdiagnosed or treated as a normal consequence of ageing within NHS services.

We recognise that women are at greater risk of osteoporosis due to the decrease in oestrogen production at the menopause, which accelerates bone loss.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research has published a clinical knowledge summary on osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures, which is designed to support healthcare professionals in the early diagnosis of osteoporosis.

The Royal College of General Practitioners has an e-learning module for general practitioners on the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, which was developed in collaboration with the Royal Osteoporosis Society. The e-learning module supports the early diagnosis of osteoporosis by highlighting which groups are at higher risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures. The module also discusses the monitoring of patients at risk of fragility fractures.

Since 2022, two new drugs have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women, namely abaloparatide and romosozumab. These medications help to strengthen the bones and prevent bone loss, reducing the risk of fractures.

The renewed women’s health strategy commits to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) nationwide by 2030, recognising FLS as a proven, evidence-based approach to preventing secondary fractures, particularly for women aged 50 years old and over who have experienced a fragility fracture.

The strategy expects FLSs to be integrated with wider local services, including community diagnostic centres, neighbourhood health centres, women’s health hubs, rehabilitation services, and falls and frailty services.