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The Government has admitted it does not have a plan to deliver the rollout of life-saving osteoporosis screening clinics on time.
Two years ago, then Health Secretary Wes Streeting promised that the delivery of fracture liaison services (FLS) would be his first act in Government, before promising full coverage across the country by 2030.
But analysis by the Royal Osteoporosis Society suggests that for the 2030 pledge to be fulfilled, 24 NHS trusts would have to create clinics. Since the election, not one has been built.
Now a health minister has admitted it does not have a plan to meet the pledge.
Responding to questions in Parliament, Baroness Merron said: ‘The Government has not set annual milestones for the rollout of fracture liaison services.’
New Health Secretary James Murray has not commented on FLS since his appointment last month, and the Royal Osteoporosis Society says he has not responded to requests to meet.
Nearly 3.5 million people in the UK have osteoporosis, which is characterised by weakened bones and mainly affects post-menopausal women.
The Mail on Sunday and the Royal Osteoporosis Society have been campaigning for full NHS rollout of FLS for two years.
The Government has admitted it won’t be able to deliver enough osteoporosis screening clinics in time for 2030, as former Health Secretary Wes Streeting promised (stock image)
The society estimates 2,500 die every year from the effects of preventable hip fractures.
Society chief executive Craig Jones said: ‘To have any hope of rolling out these clinics to every area by 2030, work would need to start immediately.
‘So it’s incredibly worrying to learn no milestones have been set and there doesn’t seem to be any plan in place to make progress.
‘It’s clear this policy is in serious trouble.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘This Government remains committed to rolling out fracture liaison services by 2030, as set out in our 10 Year Health Plan and the Women’s Health Strategy.
‘In the meantime, we’re investing in 20 new state-of-the-art DEXA scanners, building on the first wave of 13 last year.’
