20 new new bone scanners will be rolled out across England in a bid to speed up the diagnosis of osteoporosis and other bone conditions.

The new machines will diagnose fragile bones earlier and help to prevent fractures, particularly among older people and women.

The funding is to be spent on six additional scanners to expand capacity and 14 replacement machines to modernise outdated equipment with improved image quality for patients.

This is in addition to 13 scanners which were announced last year, 10 of which are already in use.

Dr Lesley Kay, NHS National Clinical Director for Musculoskeletal Conditions, said: "Osteoporosis and other bone conditions can have a devastating effect on patients, so improving access to this specialist technology will make a real difference to people’s lives.

"These scanners are the diagnostic gold standard and now tens of thousands more people will be diagnosed at an early stage and treated more quickly, as well as prevented from suffering broken bones."