Written question asked by Sandra Gidley (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 18 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 5 January 2004. It was answered by Stephen Ladyman (Labour) on Monday, 5 January 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimates the Department has made of the potential savings to be made by preventing osteoporosic fractures. - Includes no figures.

Answer: Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates the Department has made of the potential savings to be made by preventing osteoporosic fractures. [145633] Dr. Ladyman: The Department has made no estimate of the potential savings to be made by preventing osteoporotic fractures rather than treating them. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) have been asked to draw up clinical guidelines for the national health service on prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The guideline will refer to the work, update and extend the evidence base of previously published guidelines and technology appraisals and those currently under development where appropriate, including NICE clinical guidelines on assessment and prevention of falls. NICE is also conducting an appraisal of the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of prevention and treatment of osteoporosis treatments to give doctors the latest evidence based information on the most effective treatments.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 416 c203W; 145633
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Cost effectiveness Medical treatments Preventive medicine Osteoporosis Fractures
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk