Helpline secures £100,000 National Lottery Community Fund to help people living with the condition through the crisis

Our national helpline has received a financial boost from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund which will cover the cost of the service for a number of months during this critical period.

The osteoporosis Helpline is a vital lifeline for people living with osteoporosis and has seen demand grow significantly during Covid-19 and lockdown when access to NHS critical care has been severely restricted.

Typically, our team of specialist nurses deal with over 1,000 calls a month – not just from those living with osteoporosis but also their families and healthcare professionals.

ROS Nurse Manager Julia Thomson said: “Our team of specialist nurses offer a vital service giving people important information and guidance on everything from medication and side effects to pain management, and how to keep active during lockdown and tips on a healthy diet to help improve bone strength.

“The service has seen demand increasing month by month during the pandemic and for many of the most vulnerable people who have been self-isolating during lockdown our nurses maybe the only person they have spoken to in days.”

ROS CEO Craig Jones said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now more than ever it is vital that we are able to operate our specialist nurse helpline. Around 12,000 people per year call our nurses and it’s free. No question is too small.  Thanks to the team at the National Lottery for their support.”