After 19 years our aims remain:

The National Osteoporosis Society was launched in 1986 and by 1990 the awareness it had already achieved was quite extraordinary. Osteoporosis, however, was still not recognised as the very serious condition that it really is, and the message had not yet reached the general public.

The West Surrey Group was established in 1990. Since then the Group has actively supported local people who have Osteoporosis and their families.

A DXA bone density scan was, and still is the best method of diagnosis. When the Group was set up there was no DXA scanner in Surrey. Within 17 months the Group had raised , including donations from local organisations and businesses, for one to be installed at St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey.

This was upgraded in 1996 but by 2007 it had become very inefficient and out-of-date.
We worked hard lobbying the Hospital to replace it and were very pleased when in 2008 the Hospital purchased a new, technologically advanced scanner. This, together with the Hospital achieving a signifnificant reduction in the waiting time for scanner appointments, has resulted in the Hospital providing a greatly enhanced service.

Over the years the Group has organised awareness evenings and has run many successful fundraising events. As a result the Group has been able to donate money to the National Osteoporosis Society research projects, and to help run their Nurses Helpline.

For the last few years we have used our funds to improve local osteoporosis services. We have donated a number of TENS Machines to the Pain Clinic at St Peters Hospital as well as a Physio-Med wide adjustable neurology couch. We have also been able to pay for the refurbishment of the DXA scanning room, including new flooring, redecoration, curtain tracks for greater patient privacy, new chairs and a portable air conditioning unit. The waiting area has also been redecorated and had some new chairs.

We run a busy Helpline and send out a newsletter to over 300 members three times a year.