Experts have warned that the diagnosis rate for a common bone condition in England is “flatlining,” prompting the Royal Osteoporosis Society to call on ministers to ensure nationwide access to early diagnosis clinics.
The charity cautioned that patients currently face a “postcode lottery” for these crucial services, also known as Fracture Liaison Services (FLS).
An estimated 3.5 million people in the UK live with osteoporosis, a condition that progressively weakens bones, making them significantly more prone to fractures.
It typically develops slowly over many years and is often only diagnosed after an individual has already sustained a bone break, commonly affecting the hip, wrist, or spine.
The Royal Osteoporosis Society said that delays to roll out FLS across the country mean that diagnosis rates are “flatlining”.
New analysis of the national Fracture Liaison Service audit show 79,553 patients were identified by FLS in England in 2025 compared with 77,136 in 2024.
The Society said that these services need to identify 264,000 patients a year through these services to ensure that the full eligible population is properly served.
The Royal Osteoporosis Society says that half of women over the age of 50 and one in five men will break a bone due to osteoporosis.
And it warned that the consequences can be severe, saying these broken bones are the UK’s fourth biggest cause of disability and early death.
It said that Labour made a pre-election pledge to roll out FLS across the country as it challenged ministers to live up to the promise.
At present just over half of NHS trusts have an FLS, it added.
An it estimated that at the current rate it would take 38 years to meet this pledge, it added.
Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: “Today’s figures show England is flatlining on osteoporosis diagnosis.
“Ministers in Whitehall owe it to people to be honest about whether and how they are going to implement their promise to roll out these clinics to every area.
“At the current pace, we won’t see this pledge fulfilled until 2064 – eight general elections’ time.
“Ministers have promised this roll-out 85 times, but a pledge on paper saves no lives at all.”
He added: “A new Health Secretary offers the chance to rescue this policy, turn this around and save lives.
“We’re calling on James Murray to publish an implementation plan before Parliament’s summer recess, so people in England can benefit from the same life-saving care now offered in Wales.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This Government remains committed to rolling out fracture liaison services by 2030, as set out in our 10 Year Health Plan and the Women’s Health Strategy.
“But we’re also taking action in the meantime by investing in 20 new state-of-the-art DEXA scanners across the country, building on the first wave of 13 last year.
“These new machines will help diagnose fragile bones earlier and prevent painful, life-changing fractures – particularly among older people and women, who are disproportionately affected by osteoporosis.”