§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which health authorities and primary care groups are purchasing bone density measurements by means of dual X-ray absorptiometry for particular clinical indications, as advised in NHS EL (96) 110; [107440]
(2) what assessment he has made of the efficiency and availability of current provision of dual X-ray absorptiometry; [107441]
(3) what assessment he has made of the average number of operating hours dual X-ray absorptiometry equipment is in use per week by providers; and what assessment he has made of the hours that they are in use for (a) research and (b) NHS purposes; [107442]
(4) what assessment he has made of the availability of full diagnostic osteoporosis services in each health authority in England. [107443]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 28 January 2000]Information on the number of health authorities and primary care groups purchasing bone density measurements by means of dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for particular clinical indications is not held centrally.
No central assessment has been made of the number of operating hours for DXA equipment per week or the hours they are used for research and National Health Service purposes. Neither has there been any assessment of the efficiency and availability of DXA provision or the availability of full diagnostic osteoporosis services in each health authority.
454WHowever the Department asked the National Osteoporosis Society to conduct a survey of all units with access to DXA equipment. The results of which were published in an article in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Vol.93 January 2000, copies of which are available in the Library.
The launch of the Osteoporosis Strategy in June 1998 at the Sixth Bath Conference has provided evidence-based clinical guidelines for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. These should provide the basis for health authorities wishing to develop local strategies. It is however for local health authorities to decide what services to provide taking into account resources available and the needs of the local population.