Commissioning, implementation and delivery of an interface secondary fracture prevention service within the NHS: Lessons learnt from the Oxfordshire Fracture Prevention Service.

AIMS: To provide a case history of the service model, commissioning, implementation and delivery of an interface secondary fracture prevention service.

BACKGROUND

Fracture Prevention has been identified as key to reducing the burden on the NHS from an ageing population. The need to have a systematic process for identifying, assessing and ensuring treatment adherence is vital.

RATIONALE: Delivering the service to identify patients at risk and initiate treatment is important as is the use of a database for patient tracking and the need to ensure that patients remain on treatment to ensure maximum fracture prevention benefit, and cost savings are seen. The process for implementing a Fracture Prevention service can be challenging but identifying the components and working closely with local commissioners can provide the evidence and release the resource required.

SUMMARY: The key components of a Fracture Prevention Service should include robust case-finding, assessment, treatment initiation, patient education and monitoring.