§ Mr. BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the clinical guidelines on the assessment and prevention of falls in older people will include information on osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement. [31464]
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason osteoporosis has been left out of NICE's scope for the development of a clinical guideline on the assessment and prevention of falls in older people. [32856]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 4 November 2001]: I apologise to the hon. Members for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Members to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.
Following its consultation on the scope of the guideline I understand that NICE decided that osteoporosis could not be given proper consideration as part of a guideline on falls prevention. However, we are considering a proposal for a separate clinical guideline on osteoporosis.