§ Linda GilroyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he will take to encourage primary care organisations to consider the recommendations in "Primary Care Strategy for Falls and Osteoporosis", published by the National Osteoporosis Society in July; [10210]
(2) what was the cost to the health service of dealing with osteoporotic fractures in each of the last three years; [10211]
(3) what estimate he has made of the impact which recommendations in the "Primary Care Strategy for Falls and Osteoporosis", published by the National Osteoporosis Society in July, could have on reducing the number of fractures which the health service has to deal with; [10208]
(4) what estimate he has made of the impact which recommendations in "Primary Care Strategy for Falls and Osteoporosis", published by the National Osteoporosis Society in July, could have on reducing the cost to the national health service of dealing with fractures. [10209]
950W
§ Jacqui SmithThe latest evidence suggests that the annual cost of hip fractures in the United Kingdom is in excess of £1.7 billion. Hip fractures are caused mainly by osteoporosis. Through the National Service Framework for Older People we have signalled the importance of addressing osteoporosis. This document sets targets and milestones for local health and social care systems to establish an integrated falls service, which will include appropriate interventions and advice to prevent osteoporotic fracture.
We welcome the National Osteoporosis Society's primary care strategy for falls and osteoporosis. This strategy, involving many different agencies, is an excellent example of the type of integrated approach that is likely to he successful in the long term. We hope that local health care providers make its implementation a priority in their work to develop the osteoporosis aspects of integrated falls services.