Health

Urgent need for nationwide rollout of fracture prevention services to tackle rising osteoporosis crisis in the UK

Sunday, 12 October 2025 4:09AM UTC

$Urgent need for nationwide rollout of fracture prevention services to tackle rising osteoporosis crisis in the UK$

A growing epidemic of osteoporosis-related fractures threatens to double the number of life-threatening hip injuries in the UK by 2060, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive fracture prevention programmes amid inconsistent service coverage and rising healthcare costs.

The number of people suffering life-threatening hip fractures in the UK is projected to double to 140,000 per year by 2060 unless urgent action is taken, according to a recent report by the Royal College of Physicians. This surge is largely attributed to the ageing population and the currently inadequate rollout of osteoporosis screening clinics, known as Fracture Liaison Services (FLS). These services are crucial for early detection of bone-thinning disease through DEXA scans, enabling timely treatment with bone-preserving medications that can significantly reduce fracture risk.

Osteoporosis affects approximately 3.5 million people across the UK, with one in two women over 50 expected to suffer a fracture attributable to the disease. Research indicates that nearly half of patients who experience hip fractures have previously sustained preventable breaks related to osteoporosis. The Royal Osteoporosis Society estimates that 2,500 people die annually from hip fractures that could have been avoided with proper prevention. The situation carries a profound human cost alongside a financial impact: NHS treatment for fragility fractures costs around £4.3 billion a year, with hip fractures accounting for about 79,000 cases annually.

Despite some progress in patient care, the Royal College of Physicians’ report highlights significant variability in both the availability and quality of FLS across the country. While more patients are now receiving bone health assessments, the inconsistent coverage means many remain undiagnosed and untreated, prolonging their vulnerability to fractures. The report estimates that effective secondary fracture prevention within the NHS could prevent over 50,000 fractures over the next five years, emphasising an urgent need for more consistent and comprehensive FLS provision.

The importance of addressing osteoporosis is further underscored by data from the Royal College of Nursing, which reveals that one in five men over 50 will also experience a bone fracture in their lifetime, along with the significantly higher risk for women. Predictions for 2025 indicate the total number of fragility fractures in the UK could reach 682,000, a substantial increase from current levels. These fractures occur at a rate of one every minute, demonstrating a pressing public health challenge.

Ahead of the June 2024 General Election, Wes Streeting, now the Health Secretary, committed to prioritising the rollout of FLS services. Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, he framed commissioning a comprehensive plan as one of his first actions. More recently at the Labour Party conference, he acknowledged the ongoing need to ensure the consistent implementation of fracture prevention services. The Royal Osteoporosis Society has welcomed his willingness to collaborate on developing a nationwide strategy.

The Department of Health and Social Care has also confirmed investment in additional DEXA scanners, aiming to provide an extra 29,000 scans annually to improve early diagnosis. However, campaigners argue that without a full national rollout of FLS, the human and economic costs tied to osteoporosis-related fractures will continue to escalate unchecked.

The collective data and expert calls indicate a critical window of opportunity for the UK health system to reduce preventable fractures, save lives, and alleviate the financial strain on public health resources. Without decisive action, the burden of osteoporosis-related fractures is set to grow substantially, with profound consequences for individuals and the taxpayer alike.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-15184343/Life-threatening-hip-fractures-Government-taxpayer.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news-and-media/news-and-opinion/audit-of-fragility-fracture-prevention-services-calls-for-improvements-in-patient-care/ - A report by the Royal College of Physicians highlights the need for improved care for fragility fracture patients. While more patients are receiving bone health checks through Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), the quality and accessibility of these services vary across the UK. The report suggests that effective secondary fracture prevention within the NHS could prevent over 50,000 fractures in the next five years. Currently, there are over half a million fragility fractures annually in the UK, including around 79,000 hip fractures, costing the NHS £4.3 billion each year.
https://www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/Womens-health/Osteoporosis - The Royal College of Nursing provides comprehensive statistics on osteoporosis, noting that one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 are expected to break a bone in their lifetime. The number of incident fractures predicted in 2025 is estimated at 682,000 in the UK, representing an increase of 146,000 fractures from current levels. Additionally, it is estimated that every year in the UK there are more than 500,000 fragility fractures, equating to one every minute.
https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news-and-media/news-and-opinion/audit-of-fragility-fracture-prevention-services-calls-for-improvements-in-patient-care/ - A report by the Royal College of Physicians highlights the need for improved care for fragility fracture patients. While more patients are receiving bone health checks through Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), the quality and accessibility of these services vary across the UK. The report suggests that effective secondary fracture prevention within the NHS could prevent over 50,000 fractures in the next five years. Currently, there are over half a million fragility fractures annually in the UK, including around 79,000 hip fractures, costing the NHS £4.3 billion each year.
https://www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/Womens-health/Osteoporosis - The Royal College of Nursing provides comprehensive statistics on osteoporosis, noting that one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 are expected to break a bone in their lifetime. The number of incident fractures predicted in 2025 is estimated at 682,000 in the UK, representing an increase of 146,000 fractures from current levels. Additionally, it is estimated that every year in the UK there are more than 500,000 fragility fractures, equating to one every minute.
https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news-and-media/news-and-opinion/audit-of-fragility-fracture-prevention-services-calls-for-improvements-in-patient-care/ - A report by the Royal College of Physicians highlights the need for improved care for fragility fracture patients. While more patients are receiving bone health checks through Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), the quality and accessibility of these services vary across the UK. The report suggests that effective secondary fracture prevention within the NHS could prevent over 50,000 fractures in the next five years. Currently, there are over half a million fragility fractures annually in the UK, including around 79,000 hip fractures, costing the NHS £4.3 billion each year.
https://www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/Womens-health/Osteoporosis - The Royal College of Nursing provides comprehensive statistics on osteoporosis, noting that one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 are expected to break a bone in their lifetime. The number of incident fractures predicted in 2025 is estimated at 682,000 in the UK, representing an increase of 146,000 fractures from current levels. Additionally, it is estimated that every year in the UK there are more than 500,000 fragility fractures, equating to one every minute.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative presents projections of hip fractures doubling by 2060, aligning with the Royal College of Physicians' 2025 report, 'Room for improvement: hip fracture care in 2024'. ([rcplondon.ac.uk](https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/improving-care/resources/nhfd-annual-report-2025/?utm_source=openai)) However, the specific figures and projections in the narrative are not directly found in the available sources, suggesting potential extrapolation or original analysis. The report is recent, dated 11 September 2025, indicating high freshness. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative includes direct quotes from Wes Streeting, Health Secretary, and the Royal Osteoporosis Society. However, these quotes do not appear in the available sources, suggesting they may be original or exclusive content. The absence of earlier matches raises the score but also flags the content as potentially original or exclusive.

Source reliability

Score: 5

Notes: The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a reputable UK newspaper. However, the Daily Mail is often considered to have a tabloid reputation, which may affect the perceived reliability of the information. The Royal College of Physicians is a reputable organisation, but the narrative does not specify if the report is based on their findings.

Plausability check

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative's claims about the doubling of hip fractures by 2060 and the associated costs are plausible and align with known trends in an ageing population. However, the specific figures and projections are not directly found in the available sources, suggesting potential extrapolation or original analysis. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which raises concerns about its credibility.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents projections and quotes not directly found in the available sources, suggesting potential original analysis or exclusive content. While the claims are plausible and the report is recent, the lack of direct matches and supporting details from other reputable outlets raises concerns about its credibility. Further verification is needed to confirm the accuracy and originality of the content.

Osteoporosis
Fracture Liaison Services
Public Health