The Fracture Liaison Service aims to identify people who may be at risk of further falls or fractures.

The service:

• is nurse-led and aims to identify patients presenting to Barnet Hospital with a fragility fracture
• offers comprehensive assessment and advice to help to avoid future fractures
• assesses patients over the age of 50 years who have attended hospital with a fragility fracture
• offers treatments to strengthen bone or reduce the risk of further falls may be effective in reducing the risk of further fractures
• offers nurse-led telephone follow-up for patients who have been recommended treatment.

Patients can expect:

• a clinical assessment by the Nurse Specialist
  • this will look at assessing osteoporosis and future fracture risk as well as the risk of falls
• a bone density (DEXA) scan to more accurately measure any thinning of the bone, if indicated
• advice regarding results of the assessments and any recommended treatments
• referral to appropriate falls prevention services or exercise programmes, if indicated 
• nurse-led telephone follow up after the initial assessment, only if recommended treatment.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

The patient must:

• be aged 50 or over
• reside in Barnet or registered with a Barnet GP
• have sustained a low-trauma fracture (excluding skull and facial fractures, c-spine, hands and feet)
  • a low-trauma fracture is classified as a fracture that has occurred from a fall from standing height or less.

Exclusions

If the patient lives outside of Barnet:

• Enfield have their own service and will identify patients who need to be seen
• all other boroughs have no service, so responsibility falls to the hospital clinician or GP if in the community, who can either complete a FRAX assessment +/- request a DXA.

How to Refer