Labour pledge to give people suffering from brittle bone disease access to vital scans in victory for the Mail on Sunday’s War On Osteoporosis campaign

Labour will ensure that those at risk of brittle bone disease will be able to access vital scans that catch the condition early, in a victory for The Mail on Sunday’s War On Osteoporosis campaign.

Research shows that allowing patients to access specialist osteoporosis care saves lives, prevents life-changing injuries and reduces NHS spending.

Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) identify people over the age of 50 who arrive at A&E with broken bones and screens them for fragility fractures.

At present, screening is offered in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and Wales is expanding it this year – but it is only available in about half of England’s NHS Trusts.

Following an MoS campaign to expand FLSs to all hospitals, the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats have all committed to fully funding the screening project.

Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) identify people over the age of 50 who arrive at A&E with broken bones and screens them for fragility fractures (Stock Image) 

While this appeared in the Tory and Lib Dem manifestos, it was not in Labour’s.

But Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting has now told this newspaper that he remains committed to rolling out FLSs at every hospital in the UK.

‘We will expand the use of FLSs to every region in England and achieve full coverage by 2030,’ Mr Streeting says. 

‘We will ensure patients are seen quicker for scans, providing an extra 15,000 a year to beat the Tory backlog.’

But the Tories criticised Labour for omitting the pledge from the party’s manifesto.

‘We have fully funded plans for our NHS, including an explicit pledge in our manifesto to expand the use of FLSs in England to 100 per cent coverage by 2030,’ says Health Secretary Victoria Atkins.

‘Labour have talked a big game on this over recent weeks, including promises to Mail on Sunday readers, but lo and behold, their manifesto makes no mention whatsoever of FLSs. 

‘We have fully funded plans for our NHS, including an explicit pledge in our manifesto to expand the use of FLSs in England to 100 per cent coverage by 2030,’ says Health Secretary Victoria Atkins (pictured)

‘Voters should take this as yet another warning that Labour have no plan and cannot be trusted to deliver on promises.’

About 3.5 million people in the UK have osteoporosis, which causes 500,000 fractures a year. This costs the NHS £4.5 billion in expenses and lost productivity.