OSTEOPOROSIS

Early day motion 29, tabled 26 November 2003 by Tim Yeo (Conservative). Signed by 81 members.

That this House commends the work of the National Osteoporosis Society in raising public awareness of this debilitating condition; expresses sympathy with the estimated three million osteoporosis sufferers in the United Kingdom; notes that one in three women and at least one in 12 men will develop the disease during their lifetime with resulting serious pain and loss of quality of life; notes that someone has a fracture as a result of osteoporosis every three minutes; further notes that osteoporosis can be fatal and that more women die after hip fractures than from cancer of the ovaries, cervix and uterus combined; supports the National Osteoporosis Society in its valuable work to highlight the importance of diet and exercise in creating healthy bones; and urges the Government to do more to ensure that the NHS understands the importance of early diagnosis and gives the disease sufficient priority in the future.

Signatures by party: Conservative 67, Labour 5, DUP 3, Liberal Democrat 2, UUP 2, Independent Conservative 1, Independent Ulster Unionist 1.