Osteoporosis patients ‘abandoned’ after being diagnosed by text, damning inquiry reveals

The NHS is failing osteoporosis patients, diagnosing them via text message only to then "forget" them, a damning parliamentary inquiry has found.

Some individuals told MPs they received no scheduled follow-up after their diagnosis, while others faced years-long waits for crucial bone scans.

Further highlighting the systemic issues, a new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on osteoporosis and bone health revealed that only 34% of eligible patients are receiving medication to prevent fractures.

Experts condemned the findings, stating they expose a "deep, structural failure in how the NHS treats a condition affecting millions", putting patients at risk of losing their independence and facing premature death.

The patient survey found that more than half had not been contacted by a healthcare professional about their condition in the past year, while almost one in four (23%) had not been contacted in more than three years.

Fewer than a third (30%) said they were satisfied with how their osteoporosis is monitored by the NHS.

These satisfaction levels differed in deprived areas (28%) compared to wealthier areas (50%).

Meanwhile, the research found that half of all integrated care boards (ICBs) and health boards have no defined osteoporosis care pathway connecting hospitals and primary care.

The APPG said a “particularly troubling” theme to emerge from the inquiry is the “sense of abandonment felt by many people with osteoporosis as a result of the lack of clinical ownership of their condition”.

Read full story

Source: The Independent, 22 January 2026