Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
First Report - Menopause and the Workplace
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 91
Published 28 July 2022
Recommendations
1
Accepted in Part
Para 18
Menopause still carries significant social and cultural stigma, particularly for certain groups, including LGBT+ people...
Recommendation
Menopause still carries significant social and cultural stigma, particularly for certain groups, including LGBT+ people and young and ethnic minority women. We are encouraged by the recent shift towards talking about menopause more openly, by the inclusion of menopause in …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation in principle, stating that it is developing a communications plan for the introduction of the HRT pre-payment certificate (PPC) and has work underway across government to raise awareness of the menopause.
Government Equalities Office
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2
Accepted in Part
Para 23
GPs will be the first port of call for many women who are experiencing perimenopause...
Recommendation
GPs will be the first port of call for many women who are experiencing perimenopause or menopause. It is vital that women can trust their GPs and that GPs feel confident and well-equipped in diagnosing a condition that affects half …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees in part, stating that healthcare professionals should be well informed on menopause, and details existing national frameworks and planned resources to support training and awareness, including an optimal pathway for patients and non-mandatory webinars.
Government Equalities Office
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4
Accepted in Part
We are extremely disappointed that despite a clear Government commitment on a single-cost, annual pre-payment...
Recommendation
We are extremely disappointed that despite a clear Government commitment on a single-cost, annual pre-payment certificate for HRT, almost nine months later that commitment has not been realised. Progress has been further derailed by supply issues. We welcome the Health …
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Government Response Summary
The government is committed to reducing the cost of HRT prescriptions and will introduce a bespoke pre-payment certificate (PPC) for HRT medicines from April 2023, and will provide comprehensive material for women, prescribers and pharmacists, but has no plans to encourage GPs to issue 12-month prescriptions.
Government Equalities Office
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5
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the Government commits to removing dual prescription charges for oestrogen and progesterone,...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government commits to removing dual prescription charges for oestrogen and progesterone, replacing it with a single charge for all women. We also recommend that the Government works with the NHS and the ‘HRT tsar’ to develop …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts in part, committing to the bespoke HRT PPC which will reduce annual prescription charges, but states it has no plans to further reduce HRT prescription charges. It will continue to assess NHS formularies, maintain dialogue with industry, and improve access to data on prescriptions.
Government Equalities Office
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11
Accepted in Part
Para 75
Neither the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) nor the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)...
Recommendation
Neither the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) nor the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) provides any advice on menopause on its website. This should be rectified. The HSE and EHRC should publish guidance on the legal considerations when supporting …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts in part, stating the HSE will develop strengthened guidance that will give a set of clear and simple ‘principles’ that employers would be expected to apply, to support disabled people and those with long term health conditions in the work environment, which could also apply where workers are experiencing symptoms such as those that occur in the menopause. The Government will share the Committee’s recommendation with the EHRC, but action by the commission is not guaranteed.
Government Equalities Office
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