Broadcaster Mariella Frostrup has joined campaigners in calling for an end to Government delays in rolling out life-saving osteoporosis clinics.
More than 40 organisations are urging the Health Secretary to deliver on his promise to end a postcode lottery for the clinics, which diagnose and treat patients with the debilitating bone-thinning condition.
Ms Frostrup, chairman of Menopause Mandate and an ambassador for the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS), is the latest to condemn the lack of action.
Nearly 3.5million patients in the UK live with osteoporosis, a condition characterised by fragile bones that predominantly affects postmenopausal women.
Studies have revealed that half of women and one in five men will break a bone due to the condition, with many fractures deemed preventable if patients had known they had the condition are were being treated for it.
It comes just months after Wes Streeting admitted women were being let down by bias and discrimination within the NHS.
The Health Secretary has previously promised to create targeted clinics to treat osteoporosis, called Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), across all areas of England, an aim of the The Mail on Sunday’s War On Osteoporosis campaign.
But the slow rollout has been causing anxiety among medics and patients, claim campaigners.
The journalist (pictured) has joined more than 40 organisations urging the Health Secretary to deliver on his promise to end a postcode lottery for the facilities, which diagnose and treat patients with osteoporosis
Wes Streeting (pictured, at the Labour Party conference last year) previously promised to create targeted facilities to treat the debilitating bone-thinning condition
Analysis by the ROS shows that these delays have led to more than 17,000 preventable fractures since Mr Streeting and Labour took office.
This is estimated to have cost the NHS and social care systems more than £150million – a figure that dwarves the cost of the clinics and preventative medication.
And charities say that 1,760,000 women in the UK are not receiving the treatment they need, largely because of poor diagnosis rates stemming from the FLS postcode lottery.
Ms Frostrup said: ‘As someone once diagnosed as osteopenic [low bone density], I know only too well the positive impact of early intervention.
‘One in three women over the age of 50 has osteoporosis, and half of all women in this age group will break a bone because of low bone density.
‘We are especially at risk postmenopause. Fracture Liaison Services are vitally beneficial to those at risk of future fractures and the NHS in general.
‘Early support and diagnosis of osteoporosis means longer health span for those affected and fewer long-term costs.’