A new tool from the Royal Osteoporosis Society is transforming how people with osteoporosis manage their treatment explains Erika Radford, head of information and support services at the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
BoneMed Online, a free service from the Royal Osteoporosis Society, is helping people to stay on track with their medicines.
3.5 million people in the UK are estimated to be living with osteoporosis, the disease which causes bones to lose their strength, with half of women over 50 expected to break a bone as a result of the condition. Broken bones can lead to devastating consequences for those affected, from being forced into early retirement or losing their independence, to permanent disability and even death. It’s estimated that osteoporosis causes 500,000 broken bones every year in the UK, costing over £4.5 billion.
Osteoporosis medicines are proven to reduce the risk of broken bones when taken over time, yet research shows that less than 12 per cent of people are still taking their medicines a year after they’re prescribed (FLS Database, KPI 11, 2025 report).
“Many people with osteoporosis have questions and concerns about their medicines or practical problems in continuing to take them. That is where our new medication support service, BoneMed Online, comes in” said Erika Radford, head of information and support services at the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
Here she explains more about the service and what it means for people living with the condition.
What is BoneMed Online?
BoneMed Online is an innovative medication support service designed to help people understand and feel confident about their osteoporosis medicine, providing vital information and support when they need it most. It’s also simple and easy to use. After a 5-minute survey, people receive an online medicine summary tailored to the medicine they’ve been prescribed and six emails over the course of a year to provide ongoing support.
Topics covered include: why the medicine was prescribed; how to take it; fitting it into your routine; and possible side effects.
How was BoneMed Online developed?
The service is easy to use – people can revisit the information any time they have a question or concern, research from Professor Rob Horne from (UCL), insights from Personia Health Ltd, and in collaboration with people living with osteoporosis.
How is BoneMed Online helping people?
Thousands of people across the UK have signed up to BoneMed Online and the service is already supporting them to feel more confident in managing their osteoporosis medicines. It’s accessible and easy to navigate, explaining their prescribed medicine in a straightforward manner with no jargon or complicated messaging. As a result, people have reported feeling empowered to start, or continue, their osteoporosis medicine.
“I’m very pleased that I signed up to this service. I am someone who copes better when I have information to support my self-care. The information I received was very full and very informative.” said a BoneMed Online user.
Key benefits include tailored information, people receive information tailored to their specific osteoporosis medicine; bite-sized information and videos that are clear and engaging; and ongoing support with emails over the course of a year to support medication adherence. The service is easy to use – people can revisit the information any time they have a question or concern.
How to access the service
Signpost your patients to BoneMed Online at theros.org.uk/bonemed to support people every step of the way with their osteoporosis medicine and to reduce their chance of suffering a life-changing broken bone.
About the Royal Osteoporosis Society
The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) is the UK’s largest national charity dedicated to supporting the 3.5 million people who live with osteoporosis. Working with healthcare professionals and policy-makers, we’re influencing and shaping policy and practice at every level. We’re driving the research and development of new treatments, to beat osteoporosis together.
Key facts about osteoporosis
Osteoporosis causes bones to lose strength and break more easily (also known as fractures).
3.5 million people in the UK are estimated to have osteoporosis.
Broken bones caused by osteoporosis can be painful, impact on daily life, reduce independence, and sometimes lead to life-changing disability.
Half of women and 20 per cent of men over 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis.
We reach our peak bone health at the age of 30 and it begins to naturally decline as we get older, especially for women around the menopause. Osteoporosis and broken bones are not an inevitable part of ageing, however.
It is important to note that osteoporosis is not ‘brittle bone disease’. ‘Brittle bone disease’ is the term that has been adopted for a different condition called osteogenesis imperfecta. The ROS has a web page that explains the differences and the links. ‘Fragile bones’ is the term that has been adopted in the clinical world for osteoporosis, as in ‘fragility fractures’. The term ‘weak bones’ can also be used.
Bone health is important throughout life. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet with adequate calcium, and ensuring you’re getting enough vitamin D, everyone can support their bones as they get older.
