Labour ‘Just Smoke and Mirrors’ Over Bone Clinics

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, July 12, 2026

The UK government has been criticized for slow and opaque progress in expanding fracture liaison services (FLS) across England, despite pledges to achieve universal access by 2030. Critics warn that without a clear action plan and meaningful service coverage, many patients will continue to face regional disparities and limited access to vital osteoporosis care.

The UK government faces criticism over the pace and transparency of its efforts to expand access to fracture liaison services (FLS), specialist clinics designed to diagnose and treat osteoporosis following bone fractures. Despite a commitment to establish a universal roll-out of FLS across England by 2030, advocacy groups and opposition figures say progress has stalled, potentially leading to preventable deaths and ongoing regional disparities in care.

Fracture liaison services are considered vital in identifying patients at risk of further fractures by diagnosing osteoporosis and initiating appropriate treatment. The goal of universal access aims to eliminate what has been described as a postcode lottery, where patients’ chances of receiving timely and effective care depend on their geographic location.

Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged during the 2024 general election to prioritize the nationwide establishment of FLS clinics, but so far, no formal plan or timeline to meet this target has been published. During a recent debate in the House of Lords, Health Minister Baroness Merron highlighted progress by noting that 23 of England’s 25 newly configured Integrated Care Board (ICB) areas now have at least one FLS. These ICBs were reduced in number under Labour’s reorganization of NHS structures, from 42 to 25 regions, some of which cover populations exceeding four million people.

However, critics argue that counting one clinic per large health region does not equate to meaningful access for patients. The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) pointed out that while NHS administrative boundaries have changed, the actual service coverage remains largely unchanged. Since Labour came into power, only about 4,500 additional patients have gained access to these services out of an estimated 119,000 who remain unserved across England. The charity also cited examples highlighting geographical barriers: in north-east London, a single FLS serves approximately 2.2 million people, and in Devon and Cornwall, some patients face a 4.5-hour round trip to reach the nearest clinic.

Conservative peers have voiced similar concerns. Baroness Altmann called the government’s approach “smoke and mirrors,” arguing that redrawing NHS boundaries should not be presented as a solution to access gaps. She stressed that one hospital-based service cannot adequately serve large populations and that patients deserve comprehensive treatment and honest reporting. Tory peer Lord Black echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that merging NHS organizations does not create new services.

A Department of Health spokesperson reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rolling out fracture liaison services by 2030 and noted interim measures, including investment in 20 additional Dexa scanners aimed at improving early diagnosis of bone fragility.

Campaigners maintain that to demonstrate genuine progress, the government must publish a clear plan with concrete milestones rather than relying on administrative redefinitions of service coverage. They warn that without significant acceleration and transparent reporting, many patients will continue to face unequal access to crucial osteoporosis care.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.