Residents in mid and south Essex will benefit from a fracture service where hospitals and GPs work together across a large area.
The Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) in mid and south Essex is the first in the country to operate across a large geographical area, where it can provide consistent care for patients across GP, hospital and community services.
The new service aims to strengthen bones in those aged over 50, reduce fractures and free up hospital beds.
There are 70,000 residents over the age of 50 with osteoporosis in mid and south Essex, leading to 8-10,000 fractures each year. Across the UK it is estimated that there are 3.5million living with the condition.
The service identifies eligible residents who have suffered a fracture and offers them checks by nurses in hospital for osteoporosis (fragile bones). Patients are then treated with bone medication or referred to services such as physiotherapy to reduce their risk of falling again.
Angela Porter, from Southend, was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2022 after suffering from back pain caused by a fracture. She believes that a FLS would mean that more patients like her can receive the specialist treatment they need to stop further fractures: She said: “Osteoporosis runs in my family, but it was still a shock when I was diagnosed.
“I was seen by a fracture liaison nurse at Southend Hospital, who gave me advice about my diet and lifestyle and showed me how to administer my bone medication.
“As someone who was at risk, this service has really helped me in my recovery and as I regain my confidence. I’m grateful that we now have more specialist nurses who can help others across the area.”
Angela volunteered with the Royal Osteoporosis Society to set up her local patient support group and was then invited to be the patient representative for the Fracture Liaison Service to spread the word about osteoporosis further.
“It’s never too late to improve your bone health. Contact your local patient group for support with living with osteoporosis.”
Dr Way Main Wong, Consultant Rheumatologist at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is only the beginning for this first-of-its-kind service, it has the potential to transform bone health for our residents. By treating patients for osteoporosis who have had a fracture, we’re aiming to reduce the number of people admitted to hospital with another fracture by over 20%. This will free up hospital beds for others, with 1,300 bed days saved over the next five years.”
The innovative nature of the FLS was praised by the Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins MP, during a visit to Southend Hospital in April. Similar services in England often cover individual NHS trusts or smaller areas.
Dr Gavin Tucker, Senior Clinical Fellow at Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board said: “Creating the UK’s first system-wide Fracture Liaison Service has been made possible through the ICB’s Stewardship approach, which brings together clinical expertise from across the health and care system.
“This way of working puts the patient journey at the heart of service design and means we work closely with system partners to deliver improved health for people in mid and south Essex, the best experience of care and more sustainable use of NHS resources. We are particularly grateful to the patients who have contributed so much to this project.”
Craig Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: “I want to congratulate the Integrated Care Board for being the first in the country to mandate Fracture Liaison Services for everyone across their jurisdiction. The Board has shown a commitment to allowing everyone to live well in mid to later life, free from the devastating impact of fractures caused by osteoporosis. This area is a role model for all the other Boards across the country. Residents will quickly see the benefits as hospital beds become freed up as a result of this excellent example of early intervention.”
by NHS Mid and South Essex