Finish the postcode lottery of Osteoporosis detection, pleads MP

Ending the “postcode lottery” that permits osteoporosis to go undetected could be an enormous enhance to the economic system, says a senior MP.

Former Lib Dem chief Tim Farron is backing the Sunday Express Better Bones marketing campaign.

In collaboration with the Royal Osteoporosis Society, the marketing campaign goals to enhance the standard and protection of specialist fracture centres referred to as Fracture Liaison Services.

Mr Farron – vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diagnostics – stated: “The main thing is to ensure everyone can lead a healthy life but there is also a huge economic impact because people are unable to work.”

Some 3.5 million folks within the UK undergo with osteoporosis however most are undiagnosed, placing them susceptible to bone fractures. The degenerative situation forces many to cease working. Earlier prognosis of the brittle bone illness would forestall incapacity and demise by getting folks remedy earlier than it’s too late.

The marketing campaign requires £30million of additional funding annually for FLS and for all over-50s to have entry to devoted bone specialists. A Fracture Tsar in every of the nations to supervise higher osteoporosis care.

The measures would save 8,000 lives over 5 years and minimize NHS spending by £665million.

Mr Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Cumbria, stated: “This is a really important campaign. It’s not just about under-funding. It’s about decisions to commission, or not to commission, something that would really make a difference for hundreds if not thousands of people in my constituency alone.

“You have people who are missing out on the anti-osteoporosis medication they could be getting.

“The chances of people being hospitalised or immobilised because of breaks as a consequence of this postcode lottery are huge.”

The marketing campaign can also be backed by Peter Dowd, Labour MP for Bootle, Merseyside, and co-chair of the Parliamentary Group on Health.

He stated: “There is no overall national strategy for fracture services. It’s a conundrum because we want local health services to commission services that meet the needs of their population, but given the impact fractures can have…there’s an argument to say we need a national, comprehensive approach.”

Some 240 MPs and Peers again the marketing campaign and greater than 800 signed a letter to the Government demanding modifications. Leading charities together with Parkinson’s UK and Coeliac UK have additionally come out in help as have medical doctors union the BMA and 7 Royal Colleges.

A Department of Health spokesperson stated: “NHS England is working with local health systems to support the mobilisation and implementation of Fracture Liaison Services in each area and to establish more clinics. Our major conditions strategy will set out a clear vision for the management and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoporosis.”

The resolution

• Give all over-50s entry to devoted bone specialists

• £30million further funding into companies for England, Wales and Scotland

• A Fracture Tsar appointed in every of Britain’s nations