Labour is accused of a “blind spot for women’s issues” for failing to deliver on its promise to end the postcode lottery which means many people miss out on osteoporosis treatment. Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged before the election to roll out “fracture liaison services” (FLS) to ensure people are checked for the potentially deadly bone disease when they first suffer a broken bone. Campaigners are alarmed at the lack of progress.

There are an estimated 2,500 preventable deaths from hip fractures each year – meaning more than 4,000 people may have died needlessly since the election. Around half of NHS trusts are understood to lack FLS to perform basic checks for osteoporosis. The treatment of women by senior Labour figures has come under the spotlight with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy describing briefings which are “dripping with misogyny”.

Shadow health minister Caroline Johnson pointed to these remarks, adding that Mr Streeting’s “deprioritisation of his commitment on osteoporosis shows the blind spot for women’s issues runs right across Government”.

She added: “Half of women over the age of 50 live with this dreadful disease. Through Wes Streeting, Keir Starmer’s Government promised fixing this would be one of their first acts, but two years on little has happened. The same old pattern – women pushed to the back of the queue.”

The Sunday Express has fought for equal access to FLS across the country with the Better Bones campaign.

Rosie Duffield, an Independent MP who quit the Labour party, said: “Since I entered Parliament, so much of my work has been focused on women’s health, and it has been clear how much we have to fight for the approach to even common conditions such as osteoporosis, endometriosis and even basic maternity care to be consistent across the UK. The postcode lottery is still a shocking reality for many women. It is time the Government stepped up and invested in tackling the health care of over half of the population.”

Former pensions minister Baroness Altmann said: “Despite so many promises there is still insufficient resource for osteoporosis and osteopenia detection, prevention and treatment,” adding: “The Government must not have blind spots when it comes to women’s needs.”

A spokesperson for the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) said: “Osteoporosis and fragility fractures are a significant and growing challenge for both patients and the NHS. Fracture liaison services are a proven, cost-effective prevention measure that improve patient outcomes and reduce long-term pressure on services.

“The BOA supports universal access to FLS which aligns clearly with the key shift towards prevention. The BOA looks forward to that commitment being delivered.”

Caroline Abrahams of Age UK said: “Age UK continues to support the Royal Osteoporosis Society’s call for the roll out of fracture liaison services, so that older people across the country are given the care and support they need to live longer, healthier lives.”

Sara Moger of Women’s Health Concern/British Menopause Society warned: “Half of women over the age of 50 will suffer a fracture because of osteoporosis. Many of these fractures are preventable with early diagnosis and treatment. We welcomed Wes Streeting’s commitment to end the postcode lottery for Fracture Liaison Services. However, without a clear and costed implementation plan, achieving that aim by 2030 will elude us. Osteoporosis management is a key part of supporting women as they go through menopause, so we trust that an implementation plan will be integral to the forthcoming women’s health strategy.”

A Labour source said: “The Conservatives took the NHS to the worst crisis in its history, and women paid the highest price. Labour is rebuilding the NHS to undo the damage the Conservatives did.”