Written question asked by John Austin (Labour) on Wednesday, 3 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 February 2010. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 February 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Osteoporosis: Health Services

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidance to primary care trusts implementing local enhanced services on incentives for primary care health professionals to identify and treat men and women over the age of 50 with (a) osteoporosis and (b) a history of fragility fractures.

Answer: We do not issue guidance on local enhanced services which are determined by primary care trusts to meet local needs and priorities. A national Directed Enhanced Service provides incentives for general practitioner practices to diagnose and treat women aged 65 and over who have sustained a fragility fracture on the basis that this group of patients is at greatest risk of osteoporosis. This Directed Enhanced Service, which was due to end on 31 March 2010, will continue into 2010-11 and updated guidance to support this will shortly be issued by NHS Employers.

Secondary information