HC Deb 04 December 1995 vol 268 c38W
Mr. Pope

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress has been made towards establishing national clinical guidelines for the prevention of osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement; [2861]

(2) in what percentage of hip fractures experienced by women osteoporosis has been identified as a contributing factor; and if he will make a statement; [2864]

(3) what research is being conducted by his Department into the prevention of osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement; [2865]

(4) what measures have been taken since 1994 at a local and national level to educate the public and health professionals about the prevention of osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement. [2866]

Mr. Horam

It is likely that osteoporosis is a contributing factor in most hip fractures, of which about 80 per cent. are suffered by women. Our concern about these and other effects of osteoporosis caused us to set up the advisory group on osteoporosis, whose report was published in January 1995. The Department is currently working to implement its recommendations.

It is the responsibility of professional bodies to develop clinical guidelines where a need has been identified. Discussions have begun the Department and the relevant medical royal colleges with a view to their developing guidelines for osteoporosis, in response to one of the recommendations of the advisory group. The Department has this year significantly increased its financial support to the National Osteoporosis Society, which does a great deal at both national and local levels to educate the public and health professionals about the disease.

The Department is funding a study into the cost-effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy, including the benefits of using it for the prevention of osteoporosis. The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, also funds a significant amount of research on osteoporosis. We are discussing with the Medical Research Council what further work should be undertaken.