Warning Labour’s ‘blind spot’ puts women’s lives at risk | Politics | News
Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Prime Minister face questions over lack of action on bone health (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Labor has been accused of having a “blind spot on women’s issues” for failing to deliver on its promise to end the postcode lottery; This means many people miss out on osteoporosis treatment. Health Secretary Wes Streeting promised before the election to introduce “fracture contact services” (FLS) to ensure people are checked for the potentially fatal bone disease the first time they encounter a broken bone. Campaigners are alarmed by the lack of progress.
An estimated 2,500 preventable deaths occur each year due to hip fractures; This means more than 4,000 people may have died needlessly since the election. It is understood that around half of NHS trusts lack FLS to carry out basic checks for osteoporosis. The treatment of women by senior Labor figures has been put under the spotlight, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy saying the briefings were “riddled with misogyny”.
Shadow health secretary Caroline Johnson noted the remarks, adding that Mr Streeting’s “prioritisation of commitment to osteoporosis shows that the blind spot on women’s issues extends across the whole of the Government”.
She added: “Half of women over 50 are living with this terrible disease. Through Wes Streeting, Keir Starmer’s Government promised to fix it as one of its first acts, but for two years little has happened. Same old pattern; women pushed to the back of the queue.”
The Sunday Express fought for equal access to FLS across the country with its Better Bones campaign.
Independent MP Rosie Duffield, who left Labor, said: “Since entering Parliament, much of my work has focused on women’s health and it has been clear how hard we have to fight to ensure that the approach to common diseases such as osteoporosis, endometriosis and even essential maternity care is consistent across the UK. The postcode lottery is still a shocking reality for many women. It’s time for the Government to take action and invest in tackling healthcare for more than half of women.” population.”
Read more: What’s keeping Wes Streeting from battling osteoporosis?
Read more: Reform UK accuses Labor of causing premature deaths of older people
Former pensions minister Baroness Altmann said: “Despite so much promise, there are still insufficient resources for the detection, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and osteopenia,” and added: “The government must not have blind spots about women’s needs.”
A spokesperson for the British Orthopedic Association (BOA) said: “Osteoporosis and fragility fractures are a significant and growing problem for both patients and the NHS. Fracture liaison services are a proven, cost-effective prevention measure that improves patient outcomes and reduces long-term pressure on services.
“BOA supports universal access to FLS, which is clearly aligned with the fundamental shift towards prevention. BOA looks forward to seeing this commitment fulfilled.”
Former Labor MP Rosie Duffield wants action to improve women’s health (Image: Humphrey Nemar)
Caroline Abrahams of Age UK said: “Age UK continues to support the Royal Osteoporosis Society’s call for fracture contact services to be rolled out so older people across the country are given the care and support they need to live longer, healthier lives.”
Sara Moger, of Women’s Health Concern/British Menopause Society, warned: “Half of women over 50 will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis. Many of these fractures can be prevented with early diagnosis and treatment. We welcome Wes Streeting’s commitment to end the postcode lottery for Fracture Liaison Services. But without a clear and cost-effective implementation plan, achieving this target by 2030 will elude us. Osteoporosis management is an essential part of support. Women “As we enter menopause, we therefore believe that an implementation plan will be an integral part of the future women’s health strategy.”
A Labor source said: “The Conservatives have plunged the NHS into the worst crisis in its history and women have paid the highest price. Labor is rebuilding the NHS to make up for the damage done by the Conservatives.”
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