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Menopause
09 June 2022
Lead MP
Carolyn Harris
Neath and Swansea East
Lab
Responding Minister
Maria Caulfield
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementNHSEconomyEmployment
Word Count: 19000
Other Contributors: 10
At a Glance
Carolyn Harris raised concerns about menopause in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The MP asks the government to address the issue promptly to help women who can barely afford food, heating, and medication, and apologises for premature expectations raised among campaigners. I urge the Government to prioritise women's health by improving access to treatment, providing fair prescription charges, addressing the stock crisis, and ensuring that support services are available. I also ask the Department of Health and Social Care to address the issues raised concerning the disparity in HRT products across regions and social media advertising policies.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The MP is concerned about the delay in introducing an annual prescription charge for hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which was promised but will now be introduced 18 months later, causing frustration among women who are struggling through a cost of living crisis. She highlights that women in deprived communities view HRT as a luxury item they cannot afford due to minimum wage and temporary contracts. I am concerned about the difficulties faced by women experiencing menopausal symptoms. Constituents report issues with accessing prescriptions, treatment availability, and financial burdens due to prescription charges. There is a 16% increase in suicide risk among women of menopausal age, leading to devastating stories. Women are leaving their jobs due to lack of support, escalating domestic abuse during menopause, and disparities in HRT products available across different regions. Additionally, there is disparity in social media advertising, with erectile dysfunction medications advertised freely while treatments for menopause are blocked.
Guildford
Ms Richardson shared her personal experience of menopause, noting that she felt lucky to have an open mother who discussed the topic. She highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, mentioning her own delay in seeking medical help due to being busy with work and not wanting to acknowledge symptoms. She emphasized the need for women over 40 suffering from long covid to also check for menopausal symptoms and mentioned the immediate positive impact HRT had on her life.
Caroline Nokes
Con
Romsey and Southampton North
Concerned about the lack of progress in addressing menopause issues, Caroline Nokes highlighted the need for pragmatic solutions to support women experiencing symptoms. She emphasized the importance of workplace flexibility, retraining programs tailored to older women, and education on menopause for young people. Nokes also noted that some women feel compelled to keep their struggles confidential from employers. Ms Caroline Nokes suggests that the Department of Health and Social Care should consider making small funding streams available to support regional self-help and campaign groups, highlighting the importance of spreading information about menopause. The hon. Member for Romsey and Southampton North intervened, supporting the idea of small, inexpensive changes employers can make to support employees going through menopause.
Warrington North
The MP commended her colleague for securing the debate and highlighted that around 5.1 million women aged between 45 and 55 are affected by menopause symptoms. She raised concerns about the wrongful prescription of antidepressants and anxiety medication instead of HRT, which can exacerbate menopausal symptoms. Nichols called for better understanding and accommodation in workplaces and asked for updates on medical school training regarding menopause education.
Claire Hanna
SDLP
Belfast South and Mid Down
Commended the work of the hon. Member for Swansea East in raising awareness about menopause, highlighted the need for a coordinated approach to menopause support in Northern Ireland with proper funding and joined-up services across various Departments. Raised concerns over the lack of appropriate healthcare services and long waiting lists for specialists. Mentioned issues related to workforce challenges and economic impacts due to women leaving their jobs because of inadequate workplace support for menopausal symptoms.
Feryal Clark
Lab
Enfield North
The MP paid tribute to the lead member for securing the debate and highlighted the inadequacies in menopause support, including healthcare professionals being ill-informed and a shortage of hormone replacement therapy. She pointed out that 41% of UK medical schools do not have mandatory menopause education on their curriculum and criticised the Government's delayed action on prescription charges which makes HRT unaffordable for many women.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon shared his personal experience of supporting his wife through menopause, emphasizing the need for awareness and understanding in workplaces. He highlighted the civil service's menopause strategy aimed at 24,000 Northern Ireland civil service workers and urged the government to support smaller businesses lacking HR departments.
Kate Osamor
Lab Co-op
Edmonton and Winchmore Hill
Ms. Osamor shared her personal experience with menopause symptoms, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about the barriers women face in accessing HRT prescriptions and addressing the disproportionate impact on black women. She highlighted issues such as the lack of recognition by healthcare professionals, the reluctance to seek help due to cultural norms, and the need for representation in media campaigns to include diverse voices. She called for legislative changes to protect women going through menopause in the workplace and proposed mandatory workplace menopause policies, awareness training, risk assessments, and flexible working rights.
Kim Leadbeater
Lab
Spen Valley
The MP thanks her hon. Friend for campaigning on the menopause issue and agrees that it is not a minor condition but can severely impact every part of a woman's life, advocating for a holistic approach to support menopausal women.
Nickie Aiken
Con
Canning Town and East Ham
The hon. Member for Canning Town and East Ham highlighted the need to support women experiencing menopause symptoms, emphasizing that it should not be a taboo subject. She discussed the importance of education and awareness, noting her own experience with HRT product shortages and the challenges faced by some women in accessing necessary treatments due to cost and societal perceptions. Suggested writing to officials to ask whether Davina McCall should become a Dame, instead of having the 'Davina McCall effect'.
Steven Bonnar
SNP
Glasgow South
Mr Bonnar emphasized the importance of understanding and discussing menopause, noting its impact on women's health and wellbeing. He highlighted that Scottish policies like abolishing prescription charges and introducing free sanitary products help address issues faced by those going through menopause. He also mentioned that 62% of women report being stigmatised at work when requesting leave or support during early menopausal years.
Government Response
Maria Caulfield
Government Response
Reassured MPs about progress made since the previous debate, including introduction of a bespoke prepayment certificate for HRT by April next year, steps to manage supply challenges, and updates on the UK menopause taskforce. Discussed initiatives such as GP training improvements, NHS England menopause programme, women's health strategy, and workplace pledges.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.