OXFORD MP Nicola Blackwood has praised city researchers for their work in tackling osteoporosis.

The Conservative MP for Oxford West and Abingdon toured the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre on a visit organised by the National Osteoporosis Society to mark National Osteoporosis Day.

Ms Blackwood joined clinicians at the hospital in Windmill Road, Headington, on Monday before meeting a patient, visiting the fracture prevention department and meeting research staff at the Botnar Research Centre laboratories.

She said: “It was very impressive. We have hundreds and thousands of fractures in the UK every year and preventing just one fracture saves the NHS £25,000.

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“Preventing fracture injuries is something that we should be working towards.”

Ms Blackwood, who is a patron of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, said it was “one of the best in the country” and it was important for her to support the centre and the work done by its staff.

She added: “I think we need to be doing a lot more to raise awareness of osteoporosis earlier.”

The NOC has been treating patients with bone and joint problems for more than 80 years.

Patients are offered a number of services, including bone infection and bone tumour treatment and limb reconstruction.

A physiotherapy gym and hydrotherapy pool are also provided to support patients receiving treatment.

Osteoporosis, which affects about three million people across the country, weakens bones, making them prone to fractures and more likely to break.

About one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will break a bone, mainly due to poor bone health.

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