Osteoporosis: Slough

The Government is supporting earlier diagnosis of osteoporosis through the NHS Elective Reform Plan and the 10-Year Health Plan, including improving access to diagnostic services such as DEXA scanning and supporting integrated fracture liaison services (FLS), which identify and assess people at risk of osteoporosis after a fracture.

Recent steps have been taken to strengthen the early diagnosis and management of osteoporosis for residents in Slough through the introduction of a dedicated FLS at the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. The service proactively identifies people aged 50 years old and over who have sustained a fragility fracture, recognising that these patients are at significantly increased risk of future fractures if osteoporosis is not diagnosed and treated promptly. Patients are systematically identified using the trust's Epic electronic patient record system, enabling the service to capture patients presenting with fractures and arrange timely assessment, including DEXA scanning, blood tests, and falls risk evaluation where appropriate. This ensures that underlying osteoporosis can be diagnosed earlier and appropriate treatment initiated to reduce the risk of subsequent fractures.

The trust has also strengthened case identification through enhanced use of digital systems. Non-vertebral fragility fractures are identified through Epic reporting, while vertebral fractures can be detected through radiology reporting processes, with further opportunities to expand early diagnosis through the use of artificial intelligence-supported identification of vertebral fractures. Patients requiring bone density assessment can access DEXA scanning through Frimley Health services, with the nearest DEXA scanner to Slough located at St Mark's Hospital in Maidenhead, alongside additional provision at Aldershot. The FLS service follows the evidence-based model developed with the support of Public Health England and National Health Service partners.