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Fracture Liaison Service

Checked: 23-06-2023 by Sandi Littler Next Review: 23-06-2025

Service Overview

These services are designed to identify new patients of 50 years and over who have sustained a possible fragility fracture. Those under 75 years old will be offered a DXA scan to assess bone health and clinically reported scan results will be sent to the patient`s GP with advice on further management. The service will assess both men and women with relatively low energy injuries (equivalent to fall from head height or less). The services aim to perform scans within 3 months of presentation.

For further advice on osteoporosis treatment and referral in other scenarios please see the following sections of Remedy:

Osteoporosis (in Rheumatology section - includes advice on referral to Bone Health for Older People - not to be confused with the fracture liaison service which is a separate service)

Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture (in Rheumatology section - includes how to refer for vertebroplasty in patients with recent vertebral fracture)

Referral Guidance

Patients will usually be referred automatically following presentation at hospital with suspected fragility fracture.

GPs should therefore only need to refer for patients of 50 and over who have sustained a fracture as a result of a relatively low energy injury but have not attended UHBristol or North Bristol Trust, i.e. those who have sustained a fracture and have been initially treated outside Bristol.

Prior to referral please arrange the following bloods:

Calcium
Vitamin D
Renal Function (U&E's)

Referrals can be made either by phoning or emailing the Fracture Liaison Service or by eRS - Geriatric Medicine. Please include:

age of the patient
type of fracture
previous DXA scan result ifundertaken previously (please give date).

Contact Details

Southmead Hospital

FLS Nurse: Sarah Holden - tel 0117 414 1691 email fls@nbt.nhs.uk

FLA Consultant: Dr Katherine Walsh: Katherine.Walsh@nbt.nhs.uk

Please also see Advice & Guidance Section (Care of the Elderly/Rheumatology) for additional information & consultant contact details

Bristol Royal Infirmary

FLS Nurses: Cathy Churchman, Kate Turkentine and Ashir Javed - tel 0117 342 1319 email fractureliaison@uhbw.nhs.uk

FLS Consultant: Dr Abby Cannon - tel 0117 342 1563 email abigail.cannon@uhbw.nhs.uk

FLS bleep: via switchboard 6518

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Information provided through Remedy is continually updated so please be aware any printed copies may quickly become out of date.