§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are taking steps to ensure that health authorities throughout the UK are taking action to implement the report of the Department of Health Advisory Group on osteoporosis; and
How many Health Authorities have access to bone density scanning devices and what is being done to encourage the early diagnosis of osteoporosis by early detection so that treatment can be given to prevent further fractures.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)The report of the Advisory Group on Osteoporosis (AGO), copies of which have been placed in the Library, was published in January 1995. The AGO report's recommendations included that: the National Health Service should make bone densitometry more widely available to help clinical decision-making for those identified as being at high risk of developing osteoporosis; there should be better co-ordination and communication between specialists dealing with osteoporosis; and that there should be nationally agreed clinical guidelines on treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.
16WAInformation on the number of health authorities with access to bone density scanning devices is not held centrally. It is for the NHS to decide locally what priority to give to making bone scans more widely available. I have sent the AGO report to chairmen of NHS bodies, drawing attention to its recommendations, and asking them to consider the cost effectiveness of identifying local "lead clinicians" to improve co-ordination between specialists. Discussions are also taking place with Royal Colleges with a view to developing national clinical guidelines for osteoporosis.