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Fracture Liaison Services: Professional organisations, patient societies and policy makers all agree that universal access to Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) is absolutely essential if we are to reduce the suffering and costs associated with hip fractures. As of December 2010, only 37% of localities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have established an FLS, whilst Scotland has near to universal access. To find out whether your area has an FLS see the 2010 Royal College of Physicians national audit. If you work or live in an area without an FLS, detailed descriptions of services structures are available from the web page below and materials to help service development from the Resources section of this website

For information on Fracture Liaison Services click here
Levers for Change: A number of financial incentives exist within the National Health Service to reward and recognise delivery of high quality care. More details on those relevant to the prevention of fragility fractures are available from the web page below

For information on Levers for Change click here
NICE Quality Standards: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) defines Quality Standards as “… a set of specific, concise statements that act as markers of high-quality, cost-effective patient care, covering the treatment and prevention of different diseases and conditions.” NICE Quality Standards will be based upon the best available evidence to address the three primary dimensions of quality: clinical effectiveness, patients’ safety and patient experience. NICE have planned to produce 150 Quality Standards by 2015. In May 2011, NICE was in the process of establishing a hip fracture Topic Expert Group, with a view to publish a NICE Quality Standard on hip fracture during 2012. In January 2011, the National Osteoporosis Society submitted evidence to the Health Select Committee calling for formulation of a NICE Quality Standard on the management of fracture risk to complement the hip fracture care Quality Standard currently in development

The Breaking Point Report provided a snapshot of the current situation for women with osteoporosis in the UK.

Breaking Point described the practical steps that must be taken by healthcare professionals, policy makers and commissioners, as well as the public to prevent avoidable suffering and cost of osteoporotic fractures.

Politicans
In May 2011, national audit revealed that almost two-thirds of localities are not implementing Department of Health policy to prevent hip fractures. Learn how you can ensure your constituents are receiving the best quality care.
HCPs
Fracture begets fracture; half of hip fracture patients suffer a prior fragility fracture before breaking their hip. Fracture Liaison Services have been shown to delivery effective secondary preventive care, but most localities don’t have these services.
Commissioners
Hip fractures cost the UK economy £2 Billion per year which translates to £10 million per year for the average locality. Up to a quarter of hip fractures could readily be prevented if the right models of care were commissioned.
Patients
Simple and effective tools are available to your doctor to assess your risk of suffering a fragility fracture. If you are concerned about osteoporosis find out what you can do.

Amgen and GSK have sponsored the production of this web page. Sponsorship has included payment for a medical writer and payment to a public relations agency in respect of project management support.

Best practice

Politicans

HCPs

Commissioners

Patients