The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) has launched a new new online support service for people with osteoporosis.

ROS is the UK’s largest national charity dedicated to improving bone health and beating osteoporosis.

BoneMed Online provides trusted, tailored information for people who have been prescribed a bone-strengthening medicine to reduce the risk of fractures. It is designed to empower patients to make informed decisions around continuing to take the medicine they’ve been prescribed.

The service is supported by insights from ROS academic advisors, Keele University, and the work of Professor Rob Horne (UCL) and Personia Health Ltd.

It gives people with osteoporosis the information they need about their medicine, when they need it most and addresses patients’ questions and concerns about how their medicine works, how to take it, and possible side effects.

It is hoped their service will increase treatment adherence rates, with the aim ensuring that at least 50 per cent of people will still be on their medication after 12 months compared to the national average. 

Ruth Wakeman, Director of Services, Influencing and Innovation at Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: “BoneMed Online is a vital initiative to provide better support to people recommended osteoporosis medicines. Many people currently miss out on the chance to lower their fracture risk because they’re not receiving the information and support they need. BoneMed Online helps people to feel more empowered and informed.”

ROS member Heather said: “I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my spine in 2017 and prescribed risedronate, which I stopped taking last year - I was worried about the side effects of taking it for such a long time, and have since been wondering what to do. 

“BoneMed Online has helped to give me the confidence to resume my course of treatment and I’m hugely impressed by the clarity, simplicity and yet great depth of the information and explanation that has been produced.”