NHS Saves £1.5m, Supports 1000 Osteoporosis Patients

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, along with other NHS Trusts in the Thames Valley region, has introduced nurse-led Fracture Liaison Services, resulting in significant financial savings and improved patient outcomes. The services, now available in Reading, Oxford, and Buckinghamshire, with Frimley to follow, have saved £1.5m and avoided nearly 2000 bed days in just over a year.

According to the Royal Osteoporosis Society, the services have also identified an additional 1000 patients recovering from fractures who are at risk of future fractures, and provided them with treatment and long-term support to reduce that risk. This has led to the avoidance of 200 potential future fractures in a single 12-month period.

The Fracture Liaison Services are led by nurses who proactively assess patients’ osteoporosis risk after a fracture, using DEXA scans to confirm or rule out a diagnosis. Patients who are diagnosed with osteoporosis receive treatment and support, including follow-up care over a 12-month period.

“This investment in Fracture Liaison Services should be recognised and sustained as a model of excellent practice. Fracture Liaison Services are the gold standard for secondary fracture prevention, and evidence shows that well-resourced services reduce re-fracture risk by up to 40% while improving patient outcomes and driving long-term system savings.” – Bobby Ancil, Head of Health Services Development at the Royal Osteoporosis Society

“A major value of this innovative ICS-wide service is the rapid sharing of knowledge, skills and expertise it allows. By leveraging existing expertise within the ICS, we have ensured both consistent care delivery for all patients as well as fast tracking new Fracture Liaison Services to get set up and become effective rapidly.” – Professor Kassim Javaid, Honorary Adult Rheumatology Consultant, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust

The introduction of the Fracture Liaison Services is part of the work of the Acute Provider Collaborative, which brings together NHS Trusts in the Thames Valley region to identify and share best practices. The collaborative has been instrumental in rolling out the services across the region, with Steve McManus, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and Acute Provider Collaborative, commenting:

“We know that for people with osteoporosis, intervening early can make a huge difference to their outcomes, especially in the longer term. The nurse-led service now in place in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxford means we can spot people with the condition earlier, and get them the treatment and support they need – reducing the risk of it escalating into a more serious presentation.”

Source: Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust