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| Osteoporosis tests 'could save Welsh NHS £4.5m' | Osteoporosis tests 'could save Welsh NHS £4.5m' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More services in Wales to help diagnose osteoporosis could save the NHS £4.5m a year, a charity has claimed. | More services in Wales to help diagnose osteoporosis could save the NHS £4.5m a year, a charity has claimed. |
| The National Osteoporosis Society is calling for every hospital in Wales to have such a specialist service. | The National Osteoporosis Society is calling for every hospital in Wales to have such a specialist service. |
| It claims only half of hospitals in the country currently provide fracture liaison services for outpatients. | It claims only half of hospitals in the country currently provide fracture liaison services for outpatients. |
| The Welsh Government said extra funding had been provided for more physiotherapists for a community-based approach to musculoskeletal conditions. | The Welsh Government said extra funding had been provided for more physiotherapists for a community-based approach to musculoskeletal conditions. |
| According to the charity one in two women over the age of 50 in Wales will break a bone because of poor bone health, and one in five men. | |
| And, on average, people suffer one to three fractures before they are diagnosed. | And, on average, people suffer one to three fractures before they are diagnosed. |
| Fracture liaison services at hospitals can identify if people who have broken bones have osteoporosis, of if they are at risk of the condition. | Fracture liaison services at hospitals can identify if people who have broken bones have osteoporosis, of if they are at risk of the condition. |
| CASE STUDY | CASE STUDY |
| Jackie Pile, from Penarth, was diagnosed with osteoporosis six years ago and has broken a number of bones in her spine as a result of the condition. | Jackie Pile, from Penarth, was diagnosed with osteoporosis six years ago and has broken a number of bones in her spine as a result of the condition. |
| She said: "My back aches if I stand for any length of time and I end up stooping, round shouldered. | She said: "My back aches if I stand for any length of time and I end up stooping, round shouldered. |
| "I can't do as much as I used to - I used to be a teacher carrying heavy boxes around. I know I can't do that now." | "I can't do as much as I used to - I used to be a teacher carrying heavy boxes around. I know I can't do that now." |
| Ms Pile had a scan because of ongoing back pain and said it was a relief knowing the cause of it. She has lost six inches in height since her diagnosis. | Ms Pile had a scan because of ongoing back pain and said it was a relief knowing the cause of it. She has lost six inches in height since her diagnosis. |
| "I'm a bit fed up of being short. I'm used to being 5ft 8in, standing out in a crowd. Now I have to stand on something to look in the mirror," she said. | "I'm a bit fed up of being short. I'm used to being 5ft 8in, standing out in a crowd. Now I have to stand on something to look in the mirror," she said. |
| Dr David Byfield, of the University of South Wales, said: "At the age of 30 you start to lose 1% of your bone each year. You lose 2% of the scaffolding of the bone. | Dr David Byfield, of the University of South Wales, said: "At the age of 30 you start to lose 1% of your bone each year. You lose 2% of the scaffolding of the bone. |
| "When you reach menopause that increases by about 10-fold and in the lumbar spine that increases 20-fold, so there's a massive drop in the ability for the bone to sustain itself." | "When you reach menopause that increases by about 10-fold and in the lumbar spine that increases 20-fold, so there's a massive drop in the ability for the bone to sustain itself." |
| The National Osteoporosis Society said if fracture liaison services were available at all hospitals, it could help diagnose people who have the condition without realising. | The National Osteoporosis Society said if fracture liaison services were available at all hospitals, it could help diagnose people who have the condition without realising. |
| "There's a huge lack of provision in rural areas, particularly looking at parts of mid Wales and that makes a huge difference," said Louise Fox, the charity's development manager for Wales. | "There's a huge lack of provision in rural areas, particularly looking at parts of mid Wales and that makes a huge difference," said Louise Fox, the charity's development manager for Wales. |
| "We know these people can't access fracture liaison services so potentially their osteoporosis is going undiagnosed." | "We know these people can't access fracture liaison services so potentially their osteoporosis is going undiagnosed." |
| The charity said weight-bearing exercise, more calcium and vitamin D - medication if needs be - can all help build bone strength. | The charity said weight-bearing exercise, more calcium and vitamin D - medication if needs be - can all help build bone strength. |
| And experts say we should all be doing what we can to look after our bones, whatever our age. | And experts say we should all be doing what we can to look after our bones, whatever our age. |
| A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We have provided additional funding to support extra physiotherapists as part of a community-based approach to dealing with musculoskeletal conditions. | A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We have provided additional funding to support extra physiotherapists as part of a community-based approach to dealing with musculoskeletal conditions. |
| "This is part of a £40m national primary care fund to provide care for people closer to their homes. | "This is part of a £40m national primary care fund to provide care for people closer to their homes. |
| "This not only avoids patients waiting to be referred by a GP but enables those who need to be seen in secondary care to be seen more quickly." | "This not only avoids patients waiting to be referred by a GP but enables those who need to be seen in secondary care to be seen more quickly." |