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Osteoporosis - What YOU Need to Know!

A free event in your area

National Osteoporosis Society will be holding a series of public awareness events thoughout the country this year. The events are aimed not just at those with osteoporosis but anyone who has an interest in learning how to keep their bones healthy

You'll be able to hear a series of expert talks, view the informative displays about the work of the National Osteoporosis Society and meet lots of people including some of the Society's staff. Free refreshments will also be provided at all of the events.

There is no need to book - just come along on the day.

NEXT EVENTS

Wrexham - Monday 12 May 2008

Wrexham Details - You are invited to come along to The Ramada Plaza Hotel in Wrexham.

The event will be held at the Ramada Plaza Wrexham Hotel, Ellice Way, Wrexham, LL13 7YH. The hotel is located just off of the A483 Wrexham Bypass. Click here for dates, venues and information

2008 Member's day and AGM is FREE to attend

Saturday 5 July 2008

Member's Day this year is taking place at the Novotel London West Hotel in Hammersmith on Saturday 5 July 2008 and is FREE for NOS members to attend.

Taking part in Member's Day is a great way to get essential medical updates, vital lifestyle information and all the latest news from the National Osteoporosis Society. You'll be able to put your medical questions to an expert panel and, away from the talks, you'll have the chance to meet with other members and take a look at some useful displays.

Who can attend?

Anyone who is a current member of the NOS. There's no attendance fee to pay this year but you do need to book in advance as places are limited.

Where is it all happening?

Members' Day will be held at the Novotel London West Hotel, 1 Shortlands, London W6 8DR. The hotel is close to the A4 in west London and is around 5 minutes walk from Hammersmith underground station.

All the rooms we will be using at the venue are wheelchair accessible and an induction loop will be available for the talks. More...

NOS launches exciting new volunteer initiative

The National Osteoporosis Society has launched a new initiative for people who have skills to offer in a voluntary capacity, to enhance the work of the charity. 

You can help the NOS make a difference anywhere in the UK.

There are a number of interesting volunteer opportunities, either as an individual volunteer with specialist skills, such as public speaking, fundraising, campaigning, educating the young or media work or alternatively, within a local support group.

Click here to find out more

Bath Half Marathon

16th March 2008 - Places available

Grab your trainers and run for Team Osteoporosis!

Gold Bond places available.

Places are limited so call the events team now on 01761 473 103 or email l.hobbs@nos.org.uk

Click here to find out more about this and other NOS Running Events.

National Osteoporosis Society delighted by NICE appeal success

13th December 2007

The National Osteoporosis Society (NOS), the UK's only national charity campaigning for better care for people with or at risk of osteoporosis, has said that it is delighted that NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) has upheld its appeal against draft Guidance for osteoporosis.

The draft Guidance issued in June recommended only one mandatory treatment for osteoporosis - alendronate - but up to one in four people cannot tolerate the treatment or will not respond to it.  The NOS was deeply concerned that without alternatives, thousands of people would be left without any treatment option at all.

Today's appeal decision means that recommendations will now be drafted on a range of alternative treatments for these patients.

Mrs Claire Severgnini, NOS Chief Executive said:

"I am extremely pleased that the Appeal Committee has listened.  NICE should not have changed the original scope of the Guidance without full and proper consultation and this outcome is a real success for the charity. More...

Plymouth and North Cheshire NHS Trusts win funding to set up mobile DXA scanning service

11 December 2007

The National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) is delighted to announce that Plymouth and North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trusts have won funding to set up mobile DXA scanning services in their respective areas.

The winning bids, made in response to the NOS invitation to bid for osteoporosis scanning service funding, had specifically requested use of the existing NOS mobile scanner. It was impossible to choose between the two exceptional bids and therefore the existing mobile scanner will go to North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust while the Plymouth NHS Trust will receive funds to commission a similar unit.

Both Trusts demonstrated a clear vision for significantly improving the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Their business cases were excellent and the funding will mean that the number of DXA scans performed in these areas will increase and the distances travelled by patients to have a scan will be reduced significantly. More...

Exercise during childhood important for healthy bones

Recent research reveals seeds for strong bones are sown in early years

Tuesday 27th November 2007 

Research published today at the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) Conference in Edinburgh - the leading conference on osteoporosis in the UK - has revealed a link between physical activity in young children and strong bones.

The study which was carried out by a team of researchers from the University of Southampton compared the average amount of physical activity of 200 four year olds with the strength of their bones and found that the children who were more physically active had stronger skeletons.

Dr Nick Harvey, Clinical Lecturer at the MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, who managed the project said: "Evidence suggests that it is likely that the better your bones are when you are young, the better they will be when you are older, and so more physical activity as a child could potentially mean stronger bones in old age."

Sarah Leyland, NOS Spokesperson comments: "The decline in physical activity in children over the last decade is worrying and this piece of research shows that it could have a detrimental effect on the nation's bone health." More...

NOS President, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall receives Kohn Award

Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall has received the 2007 Kohn Award in recognition of her work to raise awareness of osteoporosis.

The prestigious award was presented by Dr Ralph Kohn FRS at a ceremony hosted by the Royal Society in London on October 31st, and honoured The Duchess's role in improving the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of osteoporosis as well as her tireless support in raising the profile of the disease in the UK and abroad. 

Established by Dr Kohn in 1999 in conjunction with the National Osteoporosis Society, the Kohn Award marks achievement and encourages excellence in the field of osteoporosis.

Dr Kohn commented: "I feel honoured to present this award to The Duchess of Cornwall in recognition of all her excellent work for people suffering from osteoporosis. Having witnessed her efforts over many years to bring osteoporosis to much wider attention, The Duchess was the obvious choice to receive the 8th Kohn Award."

Claire Severgnini... More...

Sharpe Chefs

NOS Patron Sean Bean helps raise vital funds for osteoporosis

Sean Bean fans from all around the world have come together to write a recipe book. All royalties will be donated to the National Osteoporosis Society.

Sean Bean, in his introduction to the book, says ‘As a patron of the National Osteoporosis Society, I am delighted to put my name to this book'
Sean talks of the important work that the NOS carries out, helping the many men and women affected by osteoporosis and their families, to cope. He says ‘By being a part of the Sharpe Chefs, I am able to further support the NOS and their work.'  

Bernard Cornwell, author of the Sharpe books has written an introduction to the book and even provided recipes from Richard Sharpe.
All recipes are inspired by the Sharpe series and include ‘Rifleman Lemon Chicken' and ‘Sharpe Shooter's Poacher's Stew'. The recipes showcase the international cooking traditions of the Sharpe Chefs who live all over the UK as well as through Europe, America and Australia.
More...

Care and Prevention of Falls 'Inadequate and Unacceptable'

Healthcare Commission Audit shows most PCTs and Trusts are 'nowhere near meeting national standards'

The first national clinical audit to investigate the care received by patients who have fallen and fractured bones (hip, wrist, arm, pelvis or spine) shows that an inadequate service is being provided by most local health services, and that there are unacceptable variations of care across PCTs and Trusts in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. 

The audit, commissioned by the Healthcare Commission and carried out by the Royal College Of Physicians' Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation Unit (CEEu), shows that most PCTs and Trusts were nowhere near meeting national standards and guidelines from NICE, SIGN and the National Service Framework for Older People on the care and prevention of falls.* 

Results from 157 Trusts were included in the audit.  Significant findings include:

  • 80% of people with hip fractures spent over 2 hours in A&E before transfer to a suitable ward, in contrast to accepted best practice
  • Less than a third had a pre-operative medical review by a suitably trained physician...

More...

NOS attends NICE appeal today to fight for change

22nd October 2007

Today in London the National Osteoporosis Society's (NOS) will appeal against the proposed NICE Guidance for osteoporosis which it says is unfair and illogical.  The draft NICE Guidance names alendronate as the only drug that Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)*** must make available for doctors to prescribe as a first line treatment for osteoporosis.  However, alendronate is unsuitable for up to one in four osteoporosis sufferers, it can be problematic to take and can cause painful side effects. More...

National Osteoporosis Society delivers 22,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street

12th October 2007

National Osteoporosis Society Patron Trudie Goodwin, accompanied by four NOS members and Chief Executive Claire Severgnini, delivered our petition against NICE recommendations to 10 Downing Street yesterday.

The petition was signed by over 22,000 members and supporters of the NOS and called for a change to the NICE Guidance, which recommends that only one mandatory treatment - alendronate - is made available for people with osteoporosis.  The National Osteoporosis Society is calling for a change to the Guidance, so that alternative mandatory treatments are made available to those who can not take or do not respond to alendronate.

Pictured are 83 year old Dorothy Borbas, from Weston Super Mare and 75 year old Jo Lye, who have both lost five inches in height due to the disease, 28 year old Meryn Payne, who developed osteoporosis during her second pregnancy and 49 year old Robert Rees, who shattered his vertebrae whilst on holiday.

Once yearly zoledronic acid treatment for postmenopausal women – NOS Comments

The National Osteoporosis Society welcomes the addition of zoledronic acid to the range of treatments available in the UK for people at risk of breaking a bone due to osteoporosis.  

Zoledronic acid, one of the group of bone protecting drugs known as bisphosphonates, is given as an annual intravenous infusion and may, for some people, prove more suitable than an oral bisphosphonate.  The NOS welcomes this drug as it should provide more choice for patients and clinicians.

Under Guidance proposed by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence), there will be only one first line treatment that GPs are compelled to prescribe for osteoporosis - alendronic acid, which is unsuitable for up to one in four osteoporosis sufferers, as it can be problematic to take and causes painful side effects.

NICE Guidance leaves the provision of alternative drugs up to the discretion of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). More...

NICE has got it seriously wrong - patients and doctors demonstrate their fears for osteoporosis

9th October 2007

A new medical survey announced today demonstrates doctors' shared concerns about the proposed NICE Guidance for osteoporosis.

Less than a third of specialist consultants (28%) support the proposed NICE Guidance that recommends alendronate as the only first line treatment for osteoporosis, according to an ICM survey released today. 39% of doctors questioned feared that if the draft Guidance remains unchanged, patients will experience a lower quality of care.
Members of the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) led by actress, Trudie Goodwin, will deliver a 20,000 signature petition against NICE's proposals to Downing Street on Thursday.


What this means for patients
The bone-protecting drug alendronate is unsuitable for up to one in four osteoporosis sufferers, as it can be problematic to take and causes painful side effects. NICE guidance, which names alendronate as the only drug that Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have to prescribe for osteoporosis, leaves the provision of alternative drugs up to the discretion of PCTs.
More...

National Osteoporosis Society backs call for better care for those affected by osteoporosis

The National Osteoporosis Society today welcomed the launch of the National Hip Fracture Database and the Blue Book which is a guide to best practice in the care of patients with fragility fractures.

The NOS says that more should be done to provide better access to scanning services and to improve care provision for those with or at risk of osteoporosis.  The National Osteoporosis Society actively campaigns to improve prevention, treatment and diagnosis of this fragile bone disease.

One in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis although it affects people of all ages.

Claire Severgnini, Chief Executive of the National Osteoporosis Society says:

‘Too many people are breaking a hip due to undiagnosed osteoporosis. The Blue Book, by promoting best practice, will help to improve the quality of health provision for people at risk. ' More...

Once yearly zoledronic acid treatment for postmenopausal women

The New England Journal of Medicine reports today on a study that concludes that a once yearly infusion of zoledronic acid during a 3 year period significantly reduced the risk of vertebral, hip and other fractures.

The National Osteoporosis Society welcomes this forthcoming and exciting new treatment. This drug is not yet licensed for use in the UK, but when available, it will add to the choice of drug treatments available for people at risk of breaking a bone due to osteoporosis.  However, patient safety is paramount and, as with any new drug to market, its safety profile will need to be fully assessed.

Zoledronic acid is one of the bisphosphonate drugs. Oral bisphosphonates can be difficult to take properly and can cause side effects. If not taken correctly these drugs will be less effective. An annual intravenous preparation may prove to be a convenient, cost effective strategy, providing that any potential problems in arranging the administration of the treatment are overcome. 

 

NOS Respond to the latest NICE consultation

The NOS has this afternoon submitted its response to the NICE consultation on osteoporosis. A copy of the consultation response can be found below.

When the document was submitted to NICE it included a list of more than 5000 members names and postcodes who contacted the NOS to voice their concerns about the draft recommendations during the consultation.

NICE issue new draft recommendations on osteoporosis

Today, NICE has issued new draft recommendations for the treatment of osteoporosis. They represent some steps forward since earlier drafts but the NOS still has serious concerns. The Society is pleased to have been offered a chance to consult on the most recent drafts.

The NOS press release and background can be found below.

The actual recommendations made by NICE are on their website (please see links below). There are two documents available for consultation. The first contains recommendations for primary prevention of osteoporotic fractures, which is for post menopausal women who have not broken a bone due to osteoporosis. The other contains recommendations for secondary prevention, which is for women who have experienced an osteoporotic fracture since the menopause. You can make comments on one or both of the documents by using the links below.

Comment to NICE on recommendation for Primary Prevention

Comment to NICE on recommendation for Secondary Prevention