Gordon Banks MP joins the All-Party Parliamentary Osteoporosis Group in it’s campaign to improve hip fracture care

4 April 2008

Gordon Banks MP joined the All-Party Parliamentary Osteoporosis Group (APPOG) earlier in the House of Commons to hear about the devastating impact of hip fractures in the UK and to support the campaign to improve care for these patients.

The Meeting focussed on the continuing tragedy that 70,000 hip fractures occur each year in the UK, almost all of which are due to osteoporosis.  MPs heard that twenty people die each year in an average sized constituency.  Not only do hip fractures have a devastating impact on people and their families, they put a tremendous strain on health and social services.  Sustaining a fracture at least doubles the risk of future fractures; a more concerted effort to improve care for these patients is urgently needed.   

Professor David Marsh, Professor of Clinical Orthopaedics at the Royal National Orthopaedics Hospital, spoke on the ‘National Hip Fracture Database’ which is an audit of the care received by people with hip fracture in order to bring about improvements.  Nick Rijke, Director of Public and External Affairs at the National Osteoporosis Society spoke on the Society’s work to improve the treatment and care of people with osteoporosis.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Banks said – “As a sufferer of Osteoporosis, I obviously take a very keen interest in these issues.  The devastating impact of 70,000 hip fractures leading to many deaths is a national tragedy.  As well as the impact on the sufferer, there is also a strain put on the NHS who have to deal with these fractures.  If we can detect Osteoporosis earlier then much of this strain and suffering can be avoided.  A key part of early detection is to also identify related illnesses such as Coeliac Disease which can lead to Osteoporosis.  As the Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Coeliac Disease, both our groups will be looking to work together in the future to tackle these issues.”