§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what preventive action he is taking against osteoporosis.
§ Mr. FreemanIn conjunction with the Health Education authority we take every opportunity to encourage women to take regular exercise and to avoid smoking and excessive alcohol intake, all of which help to prevent osteoporosis. Hormone replacement therapy, which is available on the NHS, can be effective in preventing osteoporosis. Since there may be risks as well as benefits of such treatment for some people, the individual patient's suitability for HRT should be a matter for the clinical judgment of their doctor. The Medical Research Council has set up a specialist group to look at the further388W research required into osteoporosis and HRT. The National Osteoporosis Society has been awarded a grant of £20,000 a year for three years under the Department's grant aid programme and provides information and literature for the general public and for doctors on osteoporosis.