We provide a comprehensive service including bone density scanning and a metabolic bone clinic where patients with osteoporosis, osteomalacia, primary hyperparathyroidism and other bone problems are seen.
Osteoperosis telephone advice service
Sister Kath Thompson provides a telephone advice service to help patients and other members of the multi-professional team.
Bone density scanning
If you are attending a scan you will be asked to fill in a lifestyle questionnaire and bring this to your appointment. Usually you will get an appointment within 14 days and approximately 85% of all reports are complete within 10 working days. After your scan you will receive a letter about your own result and a copy will be sent to your GP and referring clinician.
Around 15% of patients will need further investigation and management by the bone health team after the scan results.
An initial appointment will be made with Sister Thompson to discuss your scan result and an in depth screen of blood and urine tests will be organised to look for causes of osteoporosis. A follow on appointment will be made with a bone health consultant approximately four weeks later. Further management and treatment will be arranged at this time.
Bone turnover markers are monitored to assess the effectiveness of osteoporosis treatments and patients receive information about their results.
Follow up bone density scans are usually performed approximately 18 – 24 months after the start of treatment unless otherwise stated by the bone health team.
Who should be referred for a bone density scan?
- Anyone with history of low trauma fracture.
- Anyone on or commencing glucocorticoid treatment
- Osteopenia (or low bone density) reported on X-ray by radiologist
- Anyone with disease known to cause osteoporosis (e.g. RA, thyrotoxicosis, malabsorption)
- Women with early menopause (< 45 years old) or prolonged amenorrhoea
- Other reason (e.g. family history, low BMI)
- Follow-up scan to assess changes in BMD
