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A message from our Chief Executive, Craig Jones

Head office

07 Apr 2020

I hope you and your families are safe and well.

We know this is a difficult time, and want to reassure you that our priority remains the health and well-being of our beneficiaries, volunteers and our colleagues.

We’re following advice from the government and health authorities recommending home working and social distancing. We’ve kept our Helpline open, because call volumes show it’s as needed as ever, but we’ve had to pause our face-to-face channels of support.

Unfortunately, the movement restrictions have also affected our fundraising income as activity that we depend upon (such as the London Marathon or local fundraising events) have also ceased.

Like many charities, a steep loss of fundraising income has caused us to make some difficult decisions.

The Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is there to help organisations avoid redundancies during the most acute period of economic slowdown. We’ve made the decision to use that scheme to put a significant proportion of our employees on furlough leave for the coming months.

This has not been an easy decision. We’ve sought to balance the need to ensure critical information and support services with the organisational need for financial stability during this unprecedented period of economic slowdown.

We’re calling on the Government to support charities like ours to make sure we can perform our full role at this time of great need, when our people are motivated more than ever to play their part.

Our information and support services

Despite these unforeseen changes, we remain here for our beneficiaries, albeit with a reduced number of employees, and streamlined services.

Our free Helpline remains open and is taking calls. Our dedicated team of specialist nurses continue to offer vital advice and support to people who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, and their families and carers.

Working remotely, the team continue to handle the 13,000 calls a year we receive from those needing support in managing their condition.

You can call our free Helpline on 0808 800 0035. It may take us longer to respond at the moment, but we are here for you. Alternatively, please send us an email at nurses@theros.org.uk.

We continue to update our online information, providing the latest osteoporosis and bone health news, information and advice.

Our website has over 40,000 views per month and we’re working hard to make sure we can continue to be there for people when they need us most – especially when they might be feeling anxious and alone, and worried about what the current crisis means for their treatment and care.

Our healthcare partners

We would like to pay tribute to our NHS colleagues who are working tirelessly on the frontline. They are true heroes at this time of unprecedented demand on health and care services.

As you can appreciate, much of our work here has had to pause for now.

  • Our Fracture Liaison Services work, with the NHS, help people get an earlier diagnosis and treatment plans
  • We deliver professional training courses, development programmes and conferences throughout the year to aid healthcare professionals’ understanding of osteoporosis and how to support people
  • Our clinical and advisory work, developing guidelines and best practice has always been a fundamental part of our service delivery supporting and influencing the NHS

During these challenging times, we're be unable to support all of these activities. But we remain at the end of a phone or internet connection for healthcare professionals too, and we're prioritising osteoporosis and coronavirus related questions.

Thank you for your support

With your continued help and support, we will work through this challenging period and emerge with new skills, new ideas and new approaches to supporting the 3 million people who have osteoporosis in the UK.

Your ongoing support and commitment to osteoporosis and bone health through the Royal Osteoporosis Society is truly appreciated. 

Craig Jones
Chief Executive

Help us to be there for everyone who needs us. Please donate today.

We're working hard to ensure that we can continue to keep our Helpline open, and provide vital information and support during this difficult time.

With your help, we can be there for those who need us most.

Donate now

Help our specialist nurses continue to support those in need


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