Helen starts bone health campaign
Helen has started a new campaign to raise awareness of osteoporosis amongst local people, and to press for better medical services for patients.
The fragile bone disease is a major health concern that affects millions of people, and Helen is keen to ensure that high-quality treatment is available in the County Durham area.
She said, “One in two women and one in five men will suffer a fracture after the age of 50. Therefore, based on average figures, up to 8,250 women over 50 in my Bishop Auckland constituency will suffer from a fracture, and 21 people each year will die as a result of an osteoporotic hip fracture.”
Across the country, someone has a fracture due to osteoporosis every three minutes. In every constituency, the NHS spends £2.6 million a year on treating osteoporosis.
Helen added, “Funding for the local NHS has been increasing significantly for a number of years, which is why we see much shorter waiting times and fewer deaths from heart disease and cancer. But I want to ensure that local people have the best support possible should they have to face osteoporosis.”
Helen has now written to local NHS bosses to ask about the waiting time for a bone density (DXA) scan and to see what routine scanning programmes are in operation. Last year, the Government announced a capital grant of £17 million in 2006/7 and 2007/8 for the purchase of new DXA scanners.
She has also enquired whether a fully integrated falls and osteoporosis service is now in place. Government policy is that an integrated service, including risk assessment, prevention and treatment, should be in place, and Helen is pressing for this to be implemented.
Filed under: Uncategorized on May 10th, 2006
