Minister declines to confirm Government will uphold election pledge to universal fracture services by 2030

Lords exchange sees concerns peak as the fracture roll-out Wes Streeting said would be “one of my first acts in post” is omitted from today’s NHS Planning Guidance 

Health Minister Baroness Merron was asked in the Lords, by Lord Guy Black, this afternoon to confirm the Government will stick to its election commitment to roll-out early diagnosis services for osteoporosis (called Fracture Liaison Services) universally by 2030. During the election, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told a national newspaper that the rollout plan would be one of his first acts in post. 

Despite being pressed by several Peers, Baroness Merron declined to confirm the commitment to achieving universal coverage by 2030.  

Concern amongst people with osteoporosis was already high, then the NHS Planning Guidance for the next year overlooked the promised roll-out. Every year, 2,500 people die unnecessarily following hip fractures, which is the end result of untreated osteoporosis. Over 1,100 people have died already since the pledge was made by the Health Secretary. 

Lord Guy Black, who asked the question in the Lords, said: 

“Before the election Wes Streeting made an unequivocal pledge that England would have universal Fracture Liaison Services by 2030. No ifs, not buts, it was to be one of his ‘first acts in post.’  It wasn’t and today the Minister - for whom I have high personal regard - refused to repeat the commitment or say when work would start. The Government’s U turn on a clear commitment is cruel. Apart from letting down patients, taxpayers and the NHS, it also undermines trust in politics when clear cut promises can be so easily abandoned." 

Half of women aged over 50 will suffer broken bones (fractures) due to osteoporosis. These fractures are the fourth worst cause of premature death and disability.  Preventative medication is safe, cheap and highly effective. But 90,000 people are missing treatment because of the postcode lottery for these early diagnosis clinics in the NHS.  

The result is a revolving door in hospitals of people who have had multiple fractures. The Hospital Episode Statistics show that fracture patients are the second (hip) and fourth (non-hip) causes of emergency admissions. Making Fracture Liaison Services universal will free up 750,000 hospital bed days over the next five years – if the pledge is honoured. 

Craig Jones, CEO of the Royal Osteoporosis Society said: 

“We all want to believe that Ministers will honour their promise, but people with osteoporosis tell us their faith is waning. It doesn’t need to be like this – we appeal to Wes Streeting to restore trust and confidence in the specific, measurable pledge that he campaigned on, and for which many people voted.”