Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to deliver early diagnosis services for osteoporosis.
This answer is the replacement for a previous holding answer.
Answered on
28 February 2025
On 6 January 2025, NHS England published a new Elective Reform Plan, which sets out a whole system approach to achieving the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this Parliament. The plan includes funding to boost bone density (DEXA) scanning capacity, support improvements in early diagnosis, and support improvements in bone health for conditions such as osteoporosis. We are investing in 14 high-tech DEXA scanners which are expected to provide 29,000 extra scans per year.
As announced in the Get Britain Working White Paper, the Department of Health and Social Care is delivering a joint programme with NHS England and the Department for Work and Pensions called the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Musculoskeletal Community Delivery Programme. With a £3.5 million funding boost, the GIRFT will deploy a Further Faster model with integrated care boards (ICBs) to reduce musculoskeletal community waiting times, including for those with osteoporosis.
ICBs are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their population, including for osteoporosis. The Government expects ICBs to take account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and other best practice in designing their local services.