NICE guidance on osteoporosis
NOS appeal upheld

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The National Osteoporosis (NOS) has announced that it is delighted that the appeal against NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) on its draft guidance for treatment of osteoporosis has been upheld.

The draft Guidance issued in June recommended only one mandatory treatment for osteoporosis – alendronate – but up to one in four people cannot tolerate the treatment or will not respond to it. The NOS was deeply concerned that without alternatives, thousands of people would be left without any treatment option at all.

December’s appeal decision means that recommendations will now be drafted on a range of alternative treatments for these patients.

Mrs Claire Severgnini, NOS Chief Executive said:
“I am extremely pleased that the Appeal Committee has listened. NICE should not have changed the original scope of the guidance without full and proper consultation and this outcome is a real success for the charity.

We launched our appeal campaign in July with great support from our members. Thousands of people wrote to their parliamentary representatives to highlight the shortfalls in NICE’s recommendations and in October, a petition with 24,000 signatures was delivered to 10 Downing Street. The NOS will continue to work on behalf of people with or at risk of osteoporosis to secure access to a range of effective treatments.”

Professor Richard Eastell, Chair of the NOS Board of Trustees welcomed the move towards greater clarity and transparency within the Guidance. He added: “We look forward to working with NICE to ensure that clinically appropriate and scientifically robust Guidance is made available for the NHS at the earliest opportunity.”

The appeal was lodged by the National Osteoporosis Society in partnership with The Society for Endocrinology, The British Society for Rheumatology and the Bone Research Society.

Dr Peter Selby, speaking on behalf of the Society for Endocrinology said: “We welcome the decision and now look forward to working with NICE to produce straightforward, clinically workable Guidance that provides patients with the care they deserve.”
National Osteoporosis Society Press Office
Tel: 01761 473 101

BGS Newsletter, March 2008
Issue 15 ISSN 1748-6343 15