A positive outcome for the ‘Menopause Revolution’ as the Government takes action to support women experiencing the menopause
We are pleased that for anyone finding prescriptions charges out of budget, 29th Oct 2021 resulted in positive news as the Goverment made a committment to cut charges for repeatable HRT prescriptions, saving those relying on HRT a significant annual sum. A new government Menopause Taskforce was also agreed, to be co-chaired by Minister for Women’s Health, Maria Caulfield and Carolyn Harris MP.
As a result there will be cheaper and easier access to Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT) that relieve symptoms of the menopause, following commitments made in Parliament at the second reading of Carolyn Harris MPs’ Private Members’ Bill. “The menopause doesn’t discriminate, so the cost to treat it shouldn’t either,” Harris said. “We have got women struggling to find almost £20 a month, and it just isn’t right when this is a time in their life that women will reach – there’s no avoiding the menopause for half the population.”
NHS England and the government, working together, will look to implement longer prescribing cycles in line with NICE guidelines, so fewer prescriptions, are issued reducing the need to pay frequent prescription charges. The government has asked NHS England to review current practice and the barriers to implementing NICE guidelines which could result in an annual one off charge for up to a 12 month supply of HRT, saving up to £205 per year as a result.
Under current rules HRT is sometimes classed as two medicines if it contains both Oestrogen and Progesterone meaning a double charge for one course of treatment. A further improvement to HRT access would be if HRT prescriptions listed two hormone treamtents as one prescription which is reported to affect approximately 10% of HRT users. The government has committed to reviewing this.
Further reading
https://thebms.org.uk/2021/10/government-takes-action-to-support-women-experiencing-the-menopause/
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/blog/2019/09/scrapping-prescription-charges
