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Fracture Liaison Services: the UK experience

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Abstract

Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) have been shown to deliver clinically and cost-effective osteoporosis care for patients presenting to hospital with fragility fractures. During the first decade of the new millennium, a consensus emerged in the UK on the need for universal access to FLS. This presentation described constructive interactions between policy makers, professional organizations, patients and their associations, and pharmaceutical manufacturers that led to the incorporation of FLS into national policy and guidance.

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Notes

  1. NICE is an independent organization responsible for developing clinical guidelines and providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.

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Acknowledgments

The work described in this presentation represents the efforts of numerous colleagues and their respective organizations over the last decade. Major contributions from the following individuals should be highlighted; Dr. Alastair McLellan (Western Infirmary, Glasgow), Dr. Stephen Gallacher (Southern General Hospital, Glasgow), Sister Mayrine Fraser (Western Infirmary, Glasgow), Sister Carol McQuillian (Southern General Hospital, Glasgow), Dr. Eamonn Brankin (Coatbridge, Scotland), Dr. Jonathan Bayly (University of Derby), Dr. Alun Cooper (Crawley, England), Professor David Marsh (British Orthopaedic Association), Dr. Finbarr Martin (British Geriatrics Society), Professor Keith Willett (Oxford University and Department of Health in England), Professor David Oliver (City University and Department of Health in England), Anne Macleod (Department of Health in England), Nye Harries (Department of Health in England), Dr. Colin Currie (NHFD), Dr. Robert Wakeman (NHFD), Maggie Partridge (NHFD), Professor David Reid (University of Aberdeen), Professor Roger Francis (Newcastle University), Professor Opinder Sahota (Nottingham University), Professor Cyrus Cooper (Universities of Oxford and Southampton), Professor Juliet Compston (University of Cambridge), Anne Thurston (NOS), James Cooper (NOS), Juliette Brown (NOS), Dr. Femi Adekunle (Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd), Emma Gilbert (Amgen), Eddie Kerr (Roche Products Ltd), Mark Waker (London, England), Alan Potter (Stroud, England), and Chris Boulton (Amersham, England).

The author would like to express sincere thanks to Dr. Michele Solloway (Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research) and Jaimee Kaffka (UAB Continuing Medical Education) for providing logistical support in the preparation of this manuscript.

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Mitchell, P.J. Fracture Liaison Services: the UK experience. Osteoporos Int 22 (Suppl 3), 487 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1702-2

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