The Menopause (Support and Services) Bill

Congratulates Carolyn Harris on her efforts to bring the issue of menopause out of the shadows. Emphasises that proper diagnosis and prescription can save costs for the NHS and alleviate anxiety for many women.

Joins in with warm tributes to Carolyn Harris's cross-party approach. Agrees that awareness and training are crucial even if hormone replacement therapy is not suitable for everyone.

Congratulates Carolyn Harris on her constructive work, highlighting the importance of tackling stigma and emphasising that women's lives can truly begin at 50.

Ms. Doyle-Price supports the Bill and highlights its importance in bringing women's health issues to light. She discusses the lack of attention given to women’s health, especially menopause-related conditions like endometriosis and fibroids, and emphasises the need for better conversations about these subjects. She also advocates for pharmacists playing a bigger role in providing support and education on HRT and other treatments.

Intervened to acknowledge that more women in Parliament have led to this debate, highlighting the importance of diversity in bringing attention to these issues.

Intervened to agree that educating people at a young age about menopause and other women's health issues is key for future improvements.

Intervened to support greater awareness of HRT, noting that one third of women visiting GPs were not made aware of this treatment option.

Ms. Cummins supports the Bill and commends the hon. Member for Swansea East on her enthusiasm, commitment, and integrity in leading this campaign.

Supports the work of Carolyn Harris to address menopause issues. Emphasises that 80% of women suffer symptoms and HRT is not a universal solution, highlighting the need for affordable prescriptions. Advocates for education on menopause in PSHE (personal, social, health and economic) education for both girls and boys. Mentions Anne Milton's role as an evangelist for HRT and her support for colleagues facing menopausal issues. Discusses women's career impact due to menopause symptoms, citing a survey by the Fawcett Society where 50% of women in financial services were not taking on additional responsibilities and 25% were considering leaving work. Calls for strong women in the Whips Office to provide advice when needed and highlights the role of independent advisors like Claire Hattrick who offer impartial, informed advice.

[INTERVENTION]: Pays tribute to Anne Milton for changing her mind about HRT through a frank conversation. Mentions her mother and aunt's experiences with difficult reactions to HRT 30 years ago, highlighting personal anecdotes. Emphasises Anne Milton’s encouragement to use HRT as women need it to live good lives.

Supports the Bill's objectives, highlighting personal experiences with menopause symptoms. Emphasises the importance of raising awareness and improving access to HRT, citing statistics on GP visits and misdiagnosis rates. Stresses workplace impacts, including 14 million days lost annually due to menopausal symptoms, and calls for ending stigma and supporting women's careers.

[INTERVENTION] Compliments Liz Kendall on her openness and highlights the importance of education to combat ignorance about menopause symptoms, noting that even knowledgeable individuals can struggle with the condition.

[INTERVENTION] Endorses Liz Kendall's speech, emphasising its resonance with many and expressing hope for cross-party cooperation to address menopausal issues effectively.

Supports the Bill, citing personal experiences with difficulty accessing HRT and highlighting the need for better GP training. Advocates workplace education and public health campaigns to raise awareness across all age groups. Discusses prescription charges reduction through NICE guidelines.

[INTERVENTION] Thanks Nickie Aiken for her speech, stressing the importance of open dialogue about menopause to combat stigma and support women in the workplace.

Smith argues that employers must be proactive in supporting women experiencing menopause. He cites a TUC survey showing nearly nine in ten women say it has affected their working life, highlighting specific cases like Barbara's who felt unprepared and unsupported by her employer. Smith also notes that 900,000 women have left jobs due to the menopause.

Saxby supports the need for better conversations around menopause in the workplace, citing personal experiences and highlighting concerns about access to healthcare and self-diagnosis. She emphasises the importance of reducing barriers such as prescription charges and ensuring women can easily get their blood pressure checked by doctors.

Dowd supports the Bill, focusing on the need for a holistic approach to menopause support. He argues that prescription charges should be addressed and calls for better clinician training regarding menopause issues. Dowd also suggests a menopause health check starting at the perimenopausal stage.

Mr. Spencer acknowledges the importance of the issue but argues against mandatory training, suggesting that medical professionals are already receiving training through placements with senior doctors. He emphasises the need for careful consideration when implementing such requirements to avoid overburdening the profession.

In an intervention, Ms. Harris responds to Mr. Spencer's remarks about the 51% statistic, emphasising that a significant portion of the population is not receiving appropriate care due to lack of menopause training.

Ms. Hopkins highlights the importance of workplace policies protecting employees experiencing menopausal symptoms, emphasising the need for education in medical professionals to address misdiagnosis and provide appropriate care.

Supports the bill, citing personal experience of menopause symptoms such as brain fog, insomnia, anxiety, and weepiness. Emphasises the importance of public conversations about menopause to reduce stigma. Acknowledges that 1.5 million women aged between 45-55 are going through menopause at any one time and highlights the need for HRT affordability. Also supports flexible working hours and training GPs on menopause management.

Highlights personal experiences of peri-menopausal symptoms such as brain fog, hot flashes, weight gain, and overwhelming tiredness. Criticises inadequate GP responses to menopause queries and calls for abolition of prescription charges for HRT. Advocates for education and awareness in medical schools and workplaces.

Welcomed the debate on menopause and bone health, paying tribute to public figures discussing osteoporosis. Emphasised the importance of turning aspirations into transformational change in women's support through public health campaigns. Highlighted opportunities via devolved local authority responsibilities for educating about health issues, suggesting the integration of a menopause check into existing public health checks (e.g., for two-year-old children and 40-year-olds). Stressed that ignorance is the biggest barrier to success. Encouraged sharing best practices among local authorities to ensure all women can access excellent services.

The hon. Member for Lewes supports the amendment and acknowledges the importance of addressing the wide-ranging impacts of menopause on women's health. She highlights the Government's recent improvements in healthcare, workplace guidelines, and the establishment of a new menopause taskforce. The Minister outlines plans to reduce prescription charges through 12-month repeatable prescriptions and commits to reviewing double hormone issues further.

The hon. Member for Neath and Swansea East expresses gratitude towards the Minister and acknowledges the progress made, particularly noting the Welsh Government's announcement to introduce mandatory lessons on menopause in the national curriculum.