UK-wide charity National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) has expressed concerns that the planned cuts to prescriptions of vitamin D maintenance doses would hit high risk groups.
The NOS has warned that the people who need vitamin D to maintain strong bones will be badly affected if plans to pull out maintenance doses under new NHS spending cuts go ahead. For such people, it would be very difficult to sustain healthy life.
In a response to an NHS England public consultation, the charity said that the proposed cut to vitamins, minerals and probiotics would adversely affect people who require sufficient levels of vitamin D to protect their bones and guard against osteoporosis.
The charity noted that groups at high-risk of vitamin D deficiency would be particularly at risk as they cannot produce the vitamin through the usual route of exposure to sunshine.
NOS clinical director Fizz Thompson said it was “concerning” that maintenance doses of vitamin D would no longer be prescribed in primary care if the proposed changes go ahead.
“There is clear evidence that groups of patients at high-risk of deficiency should be maintained on vitamin D even when replete because they find it difficult to generate the vitamin through the usual route of sunlight exposure.
“As a result, we feel that high risk groups of patients should be maintained on prescribed vitamin D.”
At present, NOS is working with experts, parliamentarians and other stakeholders to highlight the important role vitamin D plays in the bone health.
