From 1 April 2023, women going through the menopause will be able to access cheaper hormone replacement therapy (HRT) under a new government scheme.
Women in England prescribed HRT will be able to obtain a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) which will allow them access to a year’s treatment for the cost of two single prescription charges, currently £18.70. The PPC can be used against a number of HRT prescription items such as patches, tablets and topical preparations. There will be no limit on how many times the certificate can be used for the 12 months it is valid.
Around 15% of women aged 45 to 64 in England are currently prescribed HRT and this is on the increase. HRT helps reduce and relieve the symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes, mood swings, night sweats and sleeplessness.
Access to cheaper menopause treatment will greatly help women who experience debilitating menopause symptoms which seriously impact their quality of life both at home and at work.
Last month the government unfortunately rejected proposals that menopause should be protected from discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 or that there should be a duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments for menopausal symptoms, however, the government has agreed to introduce a national ‘Menopause Employment Champion’ to produce a 6 monthly report on the progress made to support those going through the menopause.
Reducing the cost of HRT is a significant step in the right direction for improving women’s health and wellbeing and will be a welcome relief to women going through the menopause.
Employers can also play a pivotal role in providing support for menopausal women in the workplace by providing training to managers on how to deal with issues sensitively and fairly, carrying out health and safety checks and risk assessments on the temperature of the workplace, the comfort of uniform and accessibility of adequate toilet facilities and developing a menopause policy to show the company’s commitment to support a diverse and non-discriminatory workplace.
For more information and support please contact our Employment Law Team on 0345 646 0406 or fill in our online enquiry form and a member of our Team will be in touch.