A new report highlighting the cost-benefit of improved fracture services has been launched at a reception at the Welsh Assembly (9 December).
The report, which identifies a series of shortcomings in the care of people who have broken bones, highlights the financial savings that will be made if effective Fracture Liaison Services are implemented across Wales.
Fracture Liaison Services assess people over the age of 50 who have broken a bone to determine their risk of further fractures, and if appropriate, they are referred for a diagnostic scan and prescribed appropriate treatment. This simple and straight-forward process has been proven to prevent further fractures. The Welsh Assembly Government stated in 2006 in the National Service Framework for Older People that patients should have access to these services.
Mid and West Wales Assembly Member, Joyce Watson, said:
“Osteoporosis is currently putting 150,000 people in Wales at risk of painful fractures, which are extremely costly to treat. Hip fracture care alone costs Wales £84 million per year. Fracture Liaison Services, like the service I recently went to see at Bronglais General Hospital (Aberystwyth), have been proven to be effective and could save the health service money.”
In August 2009, the All Wales Osteoporosis Group (WOAG) undertook an audit of all seventeen centres in Wales that manage fragility fracture patients and discovered:
- only seven hospitals (41%) have a funded service that routinely assesses future fracture risk for inpatients;
- less than a quarter (just four hospitals) have a funded service that routinely assesses future fracture risk for outpatients;
- of the seven hospitals that admit fracture patients, five say that lack of funding explains the gap in services; and
- four hospitals report that repeated business plans have been submitted to establish a Fracture Liaison Service without success.
The report also finds that the new costs for establishing universal access to Fracture Liaison Services across Wales in 2010 and treating patients according to NICE guidelines for 5 years thereafter is £2.8 million. The savings for the NHS and social care averted is estimated at £3 million, the majority being delivered during the first three years.
Dr Mike Stone, Chair of the All Wales Osteoporosis Advisory Group said:
“This report provides the Minister for Health and Social Services, the Welsh Assembly Government and healthcare professionals working in NHS an accurate and current picture of Fracture Liaison Service provision for the people of Wales. The All Wales Osteoporosis Advisory Group commends the findings and recommendations of this report to the Minister. We are now asking the Assembly Government to ensure that changes are made to ensure that all fracture patients in Wales receive the assessment and treatment they need to prevent further unnecessary and painful fractures. We’re not asking for more money to be spent by implementing these measures. Money will actually be saved.”
In May this year, the National Osteoporosis Society revealed their manifesto which called on Wales’ Politicians and Policymakers to introduce steps to eradicate unnecessary fractures.
Osteoporosis causes fragile bones, which can lead to agonising and disabling fractures. 1,150 people die every month in the UK as a result of hip fractures.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Joyce Watson AM, Mid & West Wales, is Labour’s Rural Affairs Spokesperson in the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW).
WOAG is an independent body, comprised of healthcare professionals with an interest in Osteoporosis from across Wales. The aims and objectives of WOAG includes the provision of advice and guidance on matters related to Osteoporosis and to liaise with the Welsh Assembly Government in order to develop and implement strategies that will provide an impartial Osteoporosis service across Wales. The current WOAG committee includes Dr Mike Stone (Chair), Dr Antony Johansen (Vice Chair), Sr Debbie Stone (Secretary) and Dr Wil Evans (Treasurer).
The National Osteoporosis Society is the only UK wide charity dedicated to improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.
In the UK, one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will break a bone, mainly because of osteoporosis.
1,150 people are dying every month in the UK as a result of hip fractures.
Half of all hip fracture patients have suffered a prior fragility fracture. By identifying, then treating all older people who have suffered a fragility fracture in any part of their body, the number of people who suffer hip fractures later on in life can be significantly reduced.
Copies of the report are available.
Contact Siobhán Hallmark, National Osteoporosis Society Press Officer
Tel 01761 473101 or email s.hallmark@nos.org.uk
