Stopping fractures developing with Blackpool osteoporosis campaign

Lynda Gage (left) and Ann-Marie Ney, Staff Nurses promoting the “Stop at One’’ campaign

A campaign to reduce bone fractures has been launched at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.

The campaign, known as “Stop at One,” has been set up through the Royal Osteoporosis Society and launched in various hospitals across the country with the aim of reducing the amount of fractures patients have.

Ben Black, Musculoskeletal Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has set up the campaign.

He explained: “We have decided to run with this campaign to make a real difference to patients by increasing the awareness of osteoporosis, the risk factors associated with the issue and looking at how to reduce further avoidable fractures.

“Fractures are warning signs. Statistically, one in five women who have broken a bone will break three or more before being diagnosed with osteoporosis.

“This shows us that there is opportunity to improve the management of osteoporosis and by educating patients on the condition they feel more comfortable with what questions to ask and how they can make lifestyle improvements to prevent further fractures from happening.

“This campaign is being led by Allied Health Professionals, including physiotherapists and osteoporosis specialists with our amazing nursing and orthopaedic team working together to achieve the aims for our patients.

“Our ultimate goal is to engage people who have broken a bone and are over the age of 50 to complete an online test to find out if they are at risk of osteoporosis.

“We have the information in our clinics and all people have to do is scratch out a card to find out if they are at risk of osteoporosis to take action to reduce further fractures.

“We are very excited to be piloting this and looking from results of other hospitals were 36% of people after completing the test changed their lifestyle choice and 77% of people thought they were at risk of osteoporosis. We hope to educate our patients and help them make decisions around their condition.”

Clare Longton, Clinical Specialist Rheumatology Physiotherapist at the Trust, added: “This is a real chance to gain information on how many people potentially have osteoporosis. By picking these people up earlier we can treat them more effectively and reduce long term problems for people with the condition!”

Fracture Facts

  • A person who has suffered an osteoporotic fracture is twice as likely to suffer a fracture in the future if no diagnosis and treatment for osteoporosis has been provided.
    • Approximately half of all people who have had one osteoporotic fracture will have another, with the risk of new fractures increasing exponentially after each fracture.
    • One in four women who have a new vertebral fracture will fracture again within one year.
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