Euro shame of Britain’s poor bone care record

ROMANIA has a better record in diagnosing and treating osteoporosis than Britain.

A report prepared for a parliamentary committee found the UK is one of the worst in Europe for providing scanners for early detection of the brittle bone disease.

Poorer nations such as Romania, Lithuania and Estonia have more dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanners per head of population.

The UK comes 23rd out of 29 countries, with patients facing long waits for scans on the NHS, the report revealed.

Backlogs are double the severity of MRI, CT and ultrasound scans. The number of people waiting more than the target six weeks for a scan has soared, with 61,600 people in England waiting for a DXA in March.

The Sunday Express Better Bones campaign, in conjunction with the Royal Osteoporosis Society, has called for extra government funding of £30million a year for all over-50s to have access to specialist clinics, known as Fracture Liaison Services.

The ROS says the DXA scan figures highlight systemic failings leading to disability and premature death for tens of thousands. The scans are vital to identify people with osteoporosis.

Early diagnosis of this can prevent life-changing fractures.

Half of women over 50 will suffer fractures due to osteoporosis, and a fifth of men. And fractures are the fourth greatest cause of disability and premature death in the UK, as well as the second greatest filler of hospital beds.

The ROS says fractures are preventable with safe, effective therapies, which are highly affordable for the NHS, but two thirds of people with osteoporosis are missing treatment. It says early diagnosis and medication can reduce the risk of further spinal fractures by 80 per cent.

But delays, alongside other systemic failings, are putting patients at risk of injuries.

The review of DXA scanning facilities was carried out on behalf of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Osteoporosis and Bone Health. The inquiry found services are facing crisis.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “As part of our £2.3billion funding into diagnostic transformation, we are providing bone density scans at an increasing number of Community Diagnostic Centres. In addition, our Major Conditions Strategy will explore ways to improve outcomes for patients.”