Throughout the world – and here in New Zealand – a pervasive and persistent care gap exists for people suffering fragility fractures caused by osteoporosis. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has collated numerous studies conducted at the international, national, regional and local level which demonstrate that a minority of fragility fracture sufferers receive the secondary preventive care that they need. Given that those who suffer fractures are at double the risk of suffering subsequent fractures compared to their peers who are fracture free, and that half of patients who suffer hip fractures break another bone before breaking their hip, this is a missed opportunity that New Zealand cannot afford.

In response to this, Osteoporosis NZ has worked with the Ministry of Health, Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand (HQSC) and other key stakeholders to drive implementation of Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) by all District Health Boards (DHBs) in New Zealand. In December 2014, Osteoporosis NZ has published a FLS Resource Pack, with the intention of supporting those DHBs which are yet to implement a FLS, in accordance with the requirement of the 2014-15 District Annual Planning guidance from the Ministry of Health. Click to download the FLS Resource Pack – which has been endorsed by HQSC. Microsoft Word versions of several appendices 2-5 – including a fully-referenced FLS business plan template – can be downloaded from the Fracture Liaison Service Resource Pack page.