The report analysed the experiences of 3,335 patients who sustained low-trauma ‘fragility’ fractures in 2024 across ten of Ireland’s sixteen adult trauma hospitals. It found that two HSE regions, the Midwest and South-West, managed no patients through a Fracture Liaison Service, while coverage in other regions varied from 12% in HSE Dublin and South-East to around 25% in Dublin and Midlands and HSE North/North-West. Nationally, 84% of non-hip fragility fractures still do not receive gold-standard preventative care.

 

This inconsistency means that access to fracture prevention remains a postcode lottery, with large parts of the country lacking any structured fracture liaison service.

 

Fragility fractures are often the first warning sign of osteoporosis, doubling the risk of subsequent hip fractures. The consequences for patients can be severe, including loss of independence and reduced quality of life. 

At a time when the Minister for Health has set a €633 million savings target across the health service for 2025, this approach represents a clinically proven, cost-effective solution to reduce avoidable admissions and free up hospital capacity

International experience shows what is possible. New Zealand’s national FLS strategy, backed by targeted investment, now captures more than 70% of patients presenting with fragility fractures and has saved an estimated 57,000 hospital bed days over five years.