Thousands of hospital beds could be freed up if Health Secretary Wes Streeting delivers on his promise to fund screening clinics for a bone-thinning disease, a study has shown.
During the general election campaign, Streeting told this newspaper that one of his first acts in government would be to commission England’s National Health Service with an “implementation plan.”
This would give all parts of the country access to Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), the gold standard in early diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Now, analysis by the Royal Osteoporosis Society shows that 36,000 hospital beds could be made available each winter if the pledge was met.
Research suggests this would be enough to perform 7,000 additional surgeries and reduce waiting lists.
Osteoporosis affects more than 3.5 million people in the UK, but many do not realize they have it until they break a bone, by which time it is too late for preventive treatment.
FLS aims to predict bone fractures earlier in patients’ lives with a bone density test called a DEXA scan. If signs of osteoporosis are detected, patients can receive bone-sparing medications sooner, resulting in fewer fractures.
However, only half of hospital trusts offer the service, meaning millions of people are not being screened.
Thousands of hospital beds could be freed up if Health Secretary Wes Streeting delivers on his promise to fund osteoporosis screening clinics, study shows (File Image)
Streeting (pictured) previously told this newspaper that one of his first acts in government would be to commission NHS England with an “implementation plan”.
The Mail on Sunday launched a campaign last year to expand FLS to all parts of England, backed by the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
It was spearheaded by the Mail’s business editor Ruth Sunderland after her osteoporosis diagnosis.
Studies show that without government action, people with osteoporosis will suffer 74,000 preventable fractures by 2030, including 31,000 life-threatening hip fractures.
This will require 750,000 bed days, which will hit hopes of reducing waiting lists. Universal FLS will save the NHS £440 million over five years.
“Over the winter, thousands of people will end up in hospital with fractures that could have been avoided, including life-threatening hip fractures,” said Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
“The sooner we begin implementation, the more bed days will be freed up and the greater the reduction in waiting lists.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We will expand access to fracture link services, make 40,000 more appointments a week and increase the capacity of diagnostic scanners as part of a £1.5bn capital investment. sterling announced in the October budget.