8th December 2009
A new report highlighting the cost-benefit of improved fracture services will be launched today at a reception at the Welsh Assembly.
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 were implemented.
Successful 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, which could save money for the NHS in Wales. The Welsh Assembly Government stated in 2006 in the National Service Framework for Older People that patients should have access to these services.
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.
• Four hospitals report that repeated business plans have been submitted to establish a Fracture Liaison Service without success.
The report also identifies financial savings for Wales if access to Fracture Liaison Services were provided for all inpatients and outpatients following a fracture. The Group finds that the cost of providing services is £2.81 million over a five year period, saving £2.98 million over that same five year period.
Joyce Watson, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, said, “Osteoporosis is currently putting 150,000 people in Wales at risk of painful fractures, which are extremely costly to treat. Fracture Liaison Services, like the excellent service I recently visited at Bronglais General Hospital in Aberystwyth, have been proven to be effective and could save the health service money.”
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.
