Delays in the implementation of NHS osteoporosis screenings are putting hundreds of thousands of post-menopausal women at risk of serious bone fractures, according to experts. The Royal Osteoporosis Society has highlighted a failure by the government to fulfill its commitment to expanding screenings for the bone-thinning condition, resulting in stagnant diagnosis rates and approximately 200,000 individuals going undiagnosed annually. Osteoporosis affects half of women over 50 and one in five men, making it the UK’s fourth leading cause of disability and premature death.
The Society has emphasized the urgency of establishing a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) in all NHS trusts to address the issue. Currently, only half of the trusts have such services in place. An FLS aims to identify patients likely to have osteoporosis during hospital admissions and provide them with medications to strengthen bones and physiotherapy sessions.
Former health secretary Wes Streeting had pledged to prioritize the implementation of FLS across the country if Labour came into power in 2024. Recent data from the national Fracture Liaison Service audit revealed that the number of patients identified by FLS in England slightly increased from 2024 to 2025 but remains far below the recommended levels.
Craig Jones, CEO of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, expressed concern over the lack of progress in osteoporosis diagnosis rates, urging transparency from government officials on their commitment to expanding clinics nationwide. Osteoporosis, a condition that develops gradually and often goes undetected until a bone fracture occurs, affects an estimated 3.5 million people in the UK.
Despite the slow progress, the Department of Health and Social Care has affirmed its dedication to implementing fracture liaison services by 2030 as part of the 10-Year Health Plan and the Women’s Health Strategy. In the interim, the government is investing in new advanced DEXA scanners across the country to aid in the early diagnosis of fragile bones and mitigate the risk of debilitating fractures, particularly among older individuals and women who are disproportionately impacted by osteoporosis.
