Wes Streeting accused of putting lives at risk with ‘broken promises’ | Politics | News
Only three life-saving broken contact services have been launched since Labor came to power, despite promises to roll them out nationwide. This means half of NHS trusts still do not have a specialist service to detect osteoporosis, which causes thousands of deaths every year. The Tories said Health Minister Wes Streeting’s failure to act was putting lives at risk.
Shadow Health Secretary Caroline Johnson said: “Wes Streeting’s torrent of broken promises is raining down on patient safety.” He warned: “Wes needs to pull himself together and follow through on his promise because otherwise people will suffer unnecessary harm.”
Around 3.5 million people in the UK suffer from osteoporosis, which weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures, but many people with the condition go undiagnosed. It puts them at risk of fractures that could be prevented and lead to death.
The Royal Osteoporosis Society is calling for Fracture Liaison Services to be rolled out nationwide, warning that the current “postcode lottery” means an estimated 2,500 people die each year after preventable hip fractures.
Mr Streeting has promised that one of his first acts in government will be to task NHS England with developing a “rollout plan” to deliver services.
But freedom of information requests submitted by the Conservatives have revealed that only three new services have opened so far in Buckinghamshire, Kingston and Leeds, while 49% of NHS Trusts in England still do not have a broken contact service.
Ms Johnson said: “This is literally an accident waiting to happen on Labour’s watch.
“Wes Streeting promised universal broken contact services as a top priority by 2030. But at the current snail pace it will take 2055 to achieve this – 29 years from now.”
Ministers say the 10 Year Health Plan commits to making Fracture Contact Services available in every part of the country by 2030.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “As set out in our 10 Year Health Plan, we will introduce fracture liaison services in every part of the country by 2030.
“We are also enabling people with bone conditions to be diagnosed earlier with our investment in high-tech DEXA scanners, which will provide an extra 29,000 scans each year.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “As set out in our 10 Year Health Plan, we will introduce fracture liaison services in every part of the country by 2030.
“We are also enabling people with bone conditions to be diagnosed earlier with our investment in high-tech DEXA scanners, which will provide an extra 29,000 scans each year.”
