Closed petition Fund free HRT on the NHS for women experiencing the menopause
Women who go through the menopause should not to have to pay for Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medication. I was shocked as I thought this would have been free for all women. The Government needs to make change so HRT is free!
This petition is closed All petitions run for 6 months
Related activity
Share your views on support for people experiencing menopausal symptoms
On Wednesday 9 June, Carolyn Harris MP is leading a debate on support for people experiencing menopausal symptoms.
To inform her debate, she wants to understand your insights and experiences of this issue.
She may quote your story directly during her debate.
Find out more and share your experiences here: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/support-for-people-experiencing-menopausal-symptoms/index.html
You’ll be able to watch the debate from 4.50pm on Wednesday 9 June on this page. The debate transcript and other relevant material will be accessible shortly after the debate.
The deadline for contributions is midday on Tuesday 8 June.
What are Westminster Hall debates?
Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.
Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.
Government announces cut in costs of repeatable HRT prescriptions
On Friday 29 October, MPs debated a Private Member's Bill on access to services and support for women experiencing the menopause. This Bill was introduced by Carolyn Harris MP.
In the debate, the Government announced it would introduce changes to cut the cost of repeatable Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) prescriptions and improve access to HRT.
Watch the debate here:
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/fe4e3663-0911-4eb0-9469-ba7118b7ddb3?in=09:34:50
Read the transcript of the debate here:
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-10-29/debates/29F63A4A-BD9F-4A23-A64F-6701E2158A9F/Menopause(SupportAndServices)Bill
During the debate, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Maria Caulfield MP announced that the Government would work with the NHS in England to implement longer prescribing cycles for HRT. This would mean that women would have to pay for repeat prescriptions less often, with prescribers able to issue a batch of prescriptions for up to 12 months where clinically appropriate.
The Government also committed to establish a new cross-government Menopause Taskforce to consider issues such as education and workplace policies.
Read more about the actions the Government is taking:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-support-for-women-experiencing-the-menopause
What's a Private Member's Bill?
Private Members' Bills are public bills introduced by MPs and Lords who are not government ministers. As with other public bills their purpose is to change the law. Only a minority of Private Members' bills become law but, by creating publicity around an issue, they may affect legislation indirectly.
Find out about how Private Member's bills work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/bills/private-members/
Further information
Find out how to get involved in the work of the UK Parliament: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/
How petitioners have informed Parliament’s work on the menopause
We wanted to share a story of how petitioners, including many who signed this petition, have influenced and informed debates about the menopause in Parliament. This short, immersive story spotlights several women who signed petitions about the menopause, made their voices heard in parliamentary debates, and details some recent commitments made by the Government on this issue.
Read ‘The menopause: from petitions and parliamentary debates to Government action’: https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/the-menopause/index.html
For other ways you can get involved in the work of Parliament, sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/your-uk-parliament-newsletter-sign-up-form/
MPs call for action to better support women experiencing the menopause
On Thursday 28 July, the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee published a report on menopause in the workplace, which also looked at diagnosis and treatment of the menopause.
The Committee's report found that many women have no faith in their GP to diagnose accurately or provide effective treatment, and called on the Government to take action to better support women experiencing the menopause.
In its report, the Committee makes a series of recommendations to the Government, including calls to:
- launch a public health campaign on the symptoms of the menopause, its impact, and how to seek treatment and support at work
- make training on menopause a mandatory part of continuing professional development for GPs
- commit to cutting the cost of HRT, by scrapping dual prescription charges for oestrogen and progesterone
What happens next?
The Government now must respond to the Committee's report, which was published on 28 July 2022, within two months. The Committee will publish the Government’s response here on its website.
What is the Women and Equalities Committee
The Women and Equalities Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that look into the work of the Government Equalities Office (GEO).
The Women and Equalities Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work.
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.
MPs debate a motion on Menopause
On Thursday 26 October, Peter Dowd MP opened a debate in Parliament on menopause. During the debate, MPs discussed the challenges of menopause, raising awareness among medical professionals and access to treatment.
What are backbench business debates?
Backbench business debates give backbenchers (MPs who aren’t ministers or shadow ministers) an opportunity to secure a debate on a topic of their choice, either in the Chamber or Westminster Hall.
MPs can make a request for a debate to the Backbench Business Committee, who hears and decides which debates to schedule.
Backbench debates can either be general debates (which do not end in a vote) or be on a substantive motion (which calls for an action and can end in a vote). This debate was a general debate.
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.