New APPG report finds tens of thousands of osteoporosis patients abandoned after discharge

A new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Osteoporosis and Bone Health has revealed more than half of people with osteoporosis say they’ve had no contact from the NHS about their condition in the past year.  

‘Seen, Heard, Supported: Transforming Osteoporosis Care’, supported by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, also found that nearly one in four have had no contact for more than three years, exposing them to life-threatening hip and spinal fractures. 

The APPG found that osteoporosis patients face a fragmented healthcare system that leaves most without basic diagnosis, treatment and monitoring.  

“Left to manage alone” 

The report publishes new data from more than 3,300 patients (who responded to a survey) and a Freedom of Information request. When this sample is extrapolated to the population of people with osteoporosis, it’s clear that tens of thousands of people are currently being overlooked. 

The inquiry heard from patients who were given their life-changing diagnosis by text or via the NHS app and left to “manage their condition alone”. Some people had waited years for bone scans, got minimal clinical engagement at diagnosis, and received no scheduled follow-up. People living in deprived areas were found to get the weakest care.   

Sarah, 62, was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2025. She told the inquiry:  

“I think it is a disgrace to be given life-changing news via telephone by the clinical pharmacist. I was given no in-depth advice about osteoporosis, just told I had it and to take medication. No one took the time to discuss my situation. [In contrast] My asthma is controlled and I have reviews every 12 months.” 

Key findings 

• Half of all Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and Health Boards have no defined osteoporosis care pathway connecting hospitals and primary care.   

• The patient survey found that over half of people hadn’t been contacted by a healthcare professional about their condition in the past year - nearly 1 in 4 (23%) hadn’t been contacted in over three years.  

• Only 30% of patients surveyed are happy with how their condition is monitored by the NHS.  

• Satisfaction with care was much lower in deprived areas (28%) compared to more affluent areas (50%) - a stark sign of health inequality.   

• More than a quarter of people (28%) living with osteoporosis alongside other long-term conditions said their other condition(s) gets better support and monitoring.    

Sweeping recommendations

The report makes sweeping recommendations at a national and regional level, including:  

• A national audit of the entire patient pathway for osteoporosis so that performance at local level can be scrutinised and decision-makers held accountable.  

• Local development of comprehensive patient pathways to stop thousands of patients falling through the cracks.  

• New bone health questions to be added to the NHS Health Check for people over 40 so they can be warned about their risk.  

• Better use of population health tools like the NHS app.  

• New incentives for GPs to treat people with osteoporosis, following the removal of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF).  

• A Bone Health Management Plan to be made available to every patient.   

A step change in bone care 

The Government has committed to delivering a step change in bone care across England by ending the current postcode lottery for early diagnosis clinics - called Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) - and rolling them out across England by 2030.  

This process has not yet started, despite being trailed as an early priority for ministers. Currently, only half of NHS trusts have these specialist clinics that diagnose and treat osteoporosis early. Wales and Scotland already have universal FLS coverage.  

Craig Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said:  

“What this Inquiry lays bare is not a niche problem, but a deep, structural failure in how the NHS treats a condition affecting millions. Being diagnosed by text and then effectively forgotten is not care, it is abandonment. Osteoporosis is a serious long-term condition, yet patients are denied the basic services routinely offered for asthma, diabetes or heart disease: clear pathways, regular reviews and someone accountable for their care.  

“The consequences are predictable. People fall through the cracks, fractures spiral, lives shrink and many patients die before their time. We already know what works, from proper care pathways to smarter use of population health data and digital tools. The cost of inaction is measured not just in broken bones, but in lost independence, avoidable deaths and mounting pressure on the NHS. With excellent drug therapies already available, this report must mark the moment we get on top of this problem.” 

Read the full APPG report here.