THIS INTERNATIONAL Nurses Day, the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) is shining a light on a small team of 11 specialist nurses providing a vital, national lifeline for people living with osteoporosis, often at moments of fear, confusion and complete isolation.
In 2025, ROS’s specialist Helpline nurses supported 11,793 callers, answered 2,229 emails and welcomed 1030 attendees to online Q&A sessions, all offering expert guidance to people living with osteoporosis, as well as their families and carers seeking answers about their loved one’s bone health.
With 3.5 million people in the UK affected by osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and makes them more likely to break, many people report struggling to access clear, specialist information locally. It is often the fractures themselves, commonly affecting the hips, spine or wrists, that lead to pain, loss of independence and reduced quality of life.
For thousands of people each year, the ROS Helpline becomes the place they turn to when they simply don’t know where else to go.
Staffed entirely by specialist osteoporosis nurses, the ROS Helpline offers trusted, evidence‑based information delivered with time, empathy and understanding. Between them, they clock up an astounding 138 years of experience in their field and are therefore able to offer support, guidance, reassurance and hope to their callers.
The nurses commonly answer questions about:
- understanding osteoporosis and what a diagnosis means
- drug treatments and medication options
- side effects
- individual fracture risk
- scans and bone health tests
- exercise and safe movement
- healthy eating and lifestyle changes
- managing pain and other problems caused by fragility fractures
Behind every conversation is a depth of clinical knowledge, supported by a panel of scientific and medical advisers, ensuring all guidance is accurate, independent and up‑to‑date.
This is not simply signposting; it is specialist nursing care, delivered one‑to‑one.
For many callers, that first conversation is transformative.
Diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2020, describing the Helpline as a lifeline, Peter said: “I found the Royal Osteoporosis Society online out of pure desperation.
“A very sympathetic and kind nurse listened to me and showed me empathy, something that had been lacking until then.
“That friendly voice was the first time I felt someone truly understood what I was going through.”
Stories like Peter’s are heard daily by the Helpline team, people seeking clarity about a diagnosis, support after a fracture, or reassurance for an anxious parent, partner or spouse.
Julia Thompson, Specialist Osteoporosis Nurse at the ROS, said: “As nurses, it feels like such a luxury to be able to focus on one disease area, really get to know it, and become true experts.
“We’re so proud of the information and support we can offer people living with osteoporosis, especially at a time when they need it most. And the frequent, positive feedback we receive reminds us just what a difference we make, together.”
On International Nurses Day, ROS is celebrating nurses who confidently, but quietly fill a critical gap in primary care, providing specialist support that empowers people to understand their condition, make informed decisions, and feel less alone.
They give people back their confidence, restore a sense of control, and offer reassurance at moments when uncertainty feels overwhelming.
Visit the ROS website to find lots of health information and videos which answer many commonly asked questions? If you still have questions, contact the ROS Helpline for tailored information and support about osteoporosis and bone health.
The ROS Helpline is open Monday to Friday between 9am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-5.00pm.
Get in touch by calling 0300 102 3030 or emailing [email protected]
