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Write to the ACT Minister for Health

Thank you for volunteering to take an extra step by also writing to the ACT Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith.

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Below we have an example message that you could send to the ACT Minister for Health. It is similar to the previous letter, but has been modified to be specific to the ACT Health system.

 

Again we recommend that you copy this into your own email. Make any changes that you like, such as adding your own story if you or someone you know has suffered from a fracture.

 

We have included the Minister's email address and a possible subject line to help you get started. Click on the mail icon to begin.

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  • emaillogo

To: stephen-smith@act.gov.au

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Subject line: Make the first fracture the last!

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Message:

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Dear Minister Stephen-Smith,


Every three minutes, an Australian suffers an osteoporotic fracture that they did not have to have. Worse, 60 to 70% of these people do not get the care they need to prevent another fracture! In 2021, over 60,000 older men and women across ACT and NSW suffered an osteoporotic (fragility) fracture, which cost the State health systems over $825 million.


About half of all people who suffer a hip fracture have already had another fragility fracture at another site, like the wrist. These previous fractures are warning signs but they usually get ignored. Is this standard of care you would accept for your parents? When people have the first signs of heart disease, we treat them so they don’t have a heart attack. Why don’t we do the same for their bones?


I urge you to take action to address this almost complete lack of care for people who have suffered a fracture due to osteoporosis. We urgently need formal National Standards of Care for preventing secondary fractures! We need a nationwide Fragility Fracture Registry to ensure all healthcare facilities across the ACT provide top class healthcare.

 

Osteoporosis can be treated successfully and affordably. In a world class health care system osteoporotic fractures should be identified early, triggering preventative treatment to stop further fractures. Many later fractures can be prevented this way, saving lives and avoiding excessive healthcare costs.


I urge you to raise this matter in Parliament and with ACT Health. Ask what is being done to help to improve osteoporotic fracture prevention in the ACT.

 

Please let me know what you intend to do to address this shameful lack of treatment of older people and ensure all Canberra residents get a chance to avoid devastating fractures. I look forward to hearing from you soon.


Kind regards,

 

[your name]

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