Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Cost

Tuesday 7 March 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • From 1 April, women will be able to apply for an HRT prepayment prescription for less than 20 a year.
  • About 60% of women in England who are on hormone replacement therapy are already exempt from prescription charges.
  • Over 70 HRT products are available on the prepayment certificate, with the number of shortages reduced from 19 to five.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kirsten Oswald SNP
NHS
Context

The MP is concerned about the high costs of HRT for people experiencing menopause symptoms.

Question

What steps are being taken to help reduce the cost of hormone replacement therapy for people with menopause symptoms?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

From 1 April, women will be able to apply for an HRT prepayment prescription for less than £20 a year to pay for all their HRT, whether they are on patches, gels or dual hormones.

Answered
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Q2 Kirsten Oswald SNP
NHS
Context

England is the only UK nation not offering free prescriptions, and this affects people experiencing menopause.

Question

Although cost reductions are welcome, England still does not offer free prescriptions. Will the Minister consider following Scotland's lead and scrap prescription charges to provide better support for those experiencing menopause?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

About 60% of women in England who are on hormone replacement therapy are already exempt from prescription charges, but we are reducing the cost by hundreds of pounds a year for the remaining women. We respect Scotland's decision to provide free prescriptions, but it would cost £651 million annually in England to offer free paracetamol to everyone.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specifically avoided addressing whether they will follow Scotland's lead and scrap prescription charges.

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Q3 Liz Kendall Lab Leicester West
NHS Women & Equalities
Context

On International Women's Day, the MP pays tribute to individuals and organisations advocating for menopause support. They are questioning whether all products will be eligible for HRT prepayment and addressing shortages in HRT.

Question

With International Women's Day tomorrow, I want to pay tribute to the menopause warriors—all the amazing individual women and organisations who have forced this issue up the agenda, including my hon. Friend the Member for Swansea East (Carolyn Harris). Will all products that help with menopause symptoms be eligible for the prescription prepayment scheme? What are Ministers doing to end ongoing shortages in HRT, causing anxiety among women?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

All licensed HRT products will be available on the prepayment certificate. Over 70 products are available, with 19 facing a shortage last year but now down to five. Utrogestan is back in stock and being distributed. There has been a 50% increase in women getting HRT prescriptions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address why the menopause taskforce had not met since June last year.

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