Overview

This bill aims to improve support and services for women experiencing menopause in the UK. Key aspects include making hormone replacement therapy (HRT) free on the NHS in England and creating a UK-wide strategy for better menopause support.

Description

This bill has two main sections:

Free HRT in England: The bill makes HRT free of charge on the NHS in England by amending relevant legislation. This includes specifying that HRT, as defined as oestrogen, progestogen, or both for relieving menopause symptoms, is exempt from prescription charges.

UK-wide Menopause Strategy: The bill mandates the UK government to create a national strategy within one year of the bill passing. This strategy must cover several key areas including:

• Educating young people about the menopause.
• Public awareness campaigns.
• Improved training for GPs and medical schools on menopause diagnosis and treatment.
• Informing GPs about HRT and other treatment benefits.
• Supporting workplace policies to help women continue working through the menopause.
• Promoting peer support groups.

The government must consult with devolved administrations (Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland) when developing this strategy. The bill also allows for future revisions of this strategy.

Government Spending

The bill will increase government spending due to the cost of providing free HRT in England. The exact figure is not specified in the bill.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects:

• Women experiencing menopause in England: They will benefit from free HRT, reducing financial barriers to accessing treatment.
• Women experiencing menopause across the UK: They will benefit from a potential improvement in support services and increased awareness.
• Healthcare professionals: They will benefit from increased training and improved information on menopause management.
• Employers: They might need to adapt workplace policies to support menopausal employees.
• UK Government: They will be responsible for funding the increased costs of free HRT and developing the UK-wide strategy.

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