Ministers and clinicians from all four nations set for inaugural UK Menopause Taskforce meeting today

Women across the UK will benefit from improved menopause support and care as government ministers and senior clinicians from across all four nations will come together today for the inaugural meeting of the UK Menopause Taskforce.

Millions of women go through the menopause every year, with the majority experiencing symptoms that can be severe, such as low mood, anxiety, hot flushes and difficulty sleeping, and have a negative impact on everyday life.

The taskforce will tackle issues surrounding the menopause including increasing access to treatment, and ending the taboos and stigmas that still surround conversations about the menopause, including in the workplace.

The inaugural meeting comes as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) launched a consultation into the reclassification of a locally applied hormone replacement therapy (HRT) product, Gina 10, meaning women in the UK could access a menopausal treatment over the counter at a pharmacy, without requiring a prescription.

This is the first time HRT has been considered for sale over the counter, marking important progress in ensuring women can more easily access menopause treatment.

Minister for Women’s Health and co-chair of the UK Menopause Taskforce Maria Caulfield said:

For too long women have gone unsupported and unheard when it comes to specific women’s health issues. This is especially true when it comes to the understanding of and treatment for the menopause.

This must change. The UK Menopause Taskforce is another stride forward in delivering real change for women across the UK, breaking down taboos and ensuring better access to treatment and support.

I look forward to working closely with my colleagues across all four nations as we drive forward the women’s health agenda to tackle the gender health gap ahead of the publication of our Women’s Health Strategy later this year.

Established to ensure coordination across the UK in terms of raising awareness of the menopause and improve care and support, the objectives of the taskforce are:

• To ensure clinical evidence underpins all aspects of menopause work
• To look across all the recommendations made to government on the menopause accelerating the delivery of menopause-related programmes of work across the UK
• To identify areas of mutual interest and collaboration, share best practice and take forward actions where it is appropriate to take a joint approach across nations
• To increase understanding of and encourage open conversations about the menopause among the general public, within healthcare settings, and in workplaces
• To work closely with external stakeholder and raise awareness of the menopause in the workplace by encouraging open conversations

The formation of the taskforce forms part of the wider commitment to eradicate health disparities and ensure everyone is able to lead healthier, happier lives.

Co-chair of the UK Menopause Taskforce, Carolyn Harris MP said:

I am delighted to be co-chair on the newly formed Menopause Taskforce alongside the Minister. Improving support and services for those experiencing symptoms of the menopause is something that I am passionate about.

Insufficient education and awareness of its impact alongside historic taboos around openly discussing its symptoms has meant that for too long women have suffered and struggled to access the help that they need.

The Taskforce will bring together Parliamentarians from across the UK as well professional bodies, menopause specialists and experts by experience to raise awareness of the issues and coordinate our response in order to improve support and services and ensure better menopause experiences for women in the future.

The inaugural meeting of the taskforce discussed key themes and focuses, shared objectives across all four nations, and the future ways of working.

The taskforce seeks to draw on best practice across all nations, and will draw on workstreams including Scotland’s Women’s Health Plan, which prioritised the menopause.

It was agreed the taskforce will meet every two months, and future meetings will be scheduled by theme which will include:

• Healthcare provision
• Education and awareness
• Menopause in the workplace
• Research evidence and data

Eluned Morgan, Minister for Health and Social Services, Welsh Government said:

I’m pleased to be working across the four nations on an issue which affects so many people.

Women’s individual experience of menopause may differ but we must ensure the same high standards of care are available to everyone. Hormone Replacement therapy (HRT) has been available for free in Wales since 2007.

We are determined to improve women’s health services and have set up the Women’s Health Implementation Group to work with women and healthcare professionals to do just this.