Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the consistent availability of menopause medications.

There are over 70 hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, and the vast majority are in good supply. We are aware of supply issues affecting Estradot (estradiol) patches until early October 2025. We have issued comprehensive management guidance to healthcare professionals and Serious Shortage Protocols to enable community pharmacists to supply specified alternative estradiol patches, with the patient’s consent and without needing to seek authorisation from the prescriber.

We work closely with suppliers and other stakeholders such as the National Health Service and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to maintain overall HRT supply to patients across the United Kingdom during any shortages, including working to expedite resupply dates of the disrupted HRT products to resolve issues as soon as possible and to help fill supply gaps and prevent future shortages. We have added estradiol to the list of products that cannot be exported from, or hoarded in, the UK to protect supply of this hormone replacement therapy for UK patients.