Seen. Heard. Supported. Transforming osteoporosis care. Inquiry by the APPG on Osteoporosis and Bone Health (January 2026)

Summary

A new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Osteoporosis and Bone Health, supported by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, highlights how many people with osteoporosis are diagnosed late, struggle to access clear information, and receive little or no follow-up care. Drawing on patient evidence, MPs call for better coordination, clearer responsibility and stronger support to help people manage their condition day to day.

Content

Osteoporosis is one of the most significant threats to healthy life expectancy in the UK – affecting over 3.5 million people and causing over 550,000 broken bones every year. The scale of the disease burden, the effectiveness of early treatment, and the significant savings made by preventing fractures make osteoporosis particularly well-suited to a population health model that prioritises primary identification of people at risk and proactively prevents fractures. Instead, however, osteoporosis remains an under-prioritised condition within health policy compared to conditions of similar prevalence and impact. Osteoporosis care is characterised by underdiagnosis, inconsistent access to services, and limited long-term management. Our Inquiry found care to be often poor, fragmented, lacking clear clinical accountability, and frequently reactive rather than preventative.

Key levers for system transformation

1. Enhanced services for the identification, assessment and management of osteoporosis and high fracture risk in the community.

2. National audit of the whole osteoporosis pathway – extending the current audit of FLS to include osteoporosis healthcare delivered in primary and community care settings where most people with osteoporosis are managed over the long term.

3. Technological solutions for case-finding, identification of people at high risk, and routine follow-up of patients.

4. Local development of comprehensive osteoporosis pathways to deliver consistent, coordinated care to people with osteoporosis and reduce inequality.

5. National and regional leadership for osteoporosis care to promote collaboration and support the development of osteoporosis pathways.

6. Structured osteoporosis education for people diagnosed with the condition.

7. Patient-held Bone Health Management Plans that set out the appropriate actions, timings and responsibilities across the pathway.