North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has challenged the Health Minister over the postcode lottery in diagnosis for people with Osteoporosis in Wales and questioned why only 66 per cent of people aged over 50 in Wales have access to Fracture Liaison Services.
Speaking in today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood said that because of the postcode lottery in diagnosis, tens of thousands of people who need care are being overlooked.
Questioning the Minister over support for people with the condition, he said:
“On World Osteoporosis Day last October 20th I met with the Royal Osteoporosis Society in the Senedd. I heard that people in Wales suffer 27,000 osteoporotic fractures every year; that there are an estimated 100,000 undiagnosed Spinal Fractures in Wales; that a quarter of people have three or more fractures before they're diagnosed; that mental health issues arise from the constant pain; and that as many people die of fracture-related causes as from lung cancer or diabetes. I also heard that the right therapies and medication exist, but the postcode lottery in diagnosis means that tens of thousands of Welsh people who need care are being overlooked.
“This month, the Royal Osteoporosis Society emailed, welcoming the Welsh Government's announcement that they're committing to 100 per cent coverage in all Health Boards for Fracture Liaison Services by September 2024 —although I think in your initial response you said that was more of an aspiration than a commitment; I hope you'll clarify that in your response—which would see all patients aged over 50 with a broken bone after a fall checked and managed to lower their risk of future fractures. Why, currently, nonetheless, do only 66 per cent of people in Wales aged over 50 have access to Fracture Liaison Services, when the figure is already 100 per cent in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and how will you address the existing hidden need in Wales I described?”
Responding, the Minister said Osteoporosis is “very common” and emphasised the importance of “preventative measures”.
She added:
“What we know is that we have actually worked really closely with the Royal Osteoporosis Society in order to develop that national programme. Obviously, we had that conference back in October, where we had the inaugural Fracture Liaison Service national conference, and indeed the aspiration of that conference and the intention of that conference was to set out our expectation that that postcode lottery will end and that provision of services will be available across the whole of Wales.”
ENDS