Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will instruct health providers to update outdated or unclear information on hormone replacement therapy treatments for menopause.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Setting guidance for the treatment of individual conditions falls to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), who produce guidance for the National Health Service and wider health and care system. NICE guidelines are evidence-based recommendations for health and care in England and Wales. They help health and social care professionals to prevent ill health, promote good health, and improve the quality of care and services.
NICE clinical guidelines are intended for health and social care professionals, commissioners, patients, and carers to help them make informed decisions on the appropriate treatment and care.
When put into practice, NICE guidelines have the potential to effectively target health and care resources to significantly improve patient outcomes, in line with the best available evidence of clinical and cost-effectiveness. Although healthcare professionals and commissioners are not legally obliged to follow NICE guidelines, they are expected to take them into full account when making decisions on treatment and care for patients. The most recent guidance, last updated November 2024, is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23
Generally, providers rely on a range of professional organisations to keep their practice up to date, and they need to work within a scope of practice which includes being up to date and which is assessed through appraisal. In addition to NICE, they would look to the British Menopause Society, the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, the Royal College of General Practitioners, or the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Further information on the British Menopause Society is available at the following link:
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2025 to Question 75367 on Cabinet Office: Equality, which diversity networks in his Department are eligible for diversity network time.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office has a number of diversity networks listed below. Currently only chairs of diversity networks are offered up to 10% of their time for network related actvities.
Diversity Networks
All Ages Network- EngAge
Carers network
Christian Network
Disability Network (ABLE)
Faith and Belief Forum
Women in Digital network
Flexible Working network
LGBT+ network
Gender Equality network
Menopause network
Neurodiversity network
Race Equality (CORE) Network
Parental Support Network
Social Mobility Network
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to care for menopause treatment across the country.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government acknowledges that women suffering from symptoms of menopause have been failed for far too long, and the impact it has on women’s lives, relationships, and participation in the workplace.
In October 2025, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced that menopause will be added to the NHS Health Checks from 2026. Local authorities will be asked to include menopause to the check for eligible women aged 40 to 55 years old who attend. This will support up to five million eligible women across England to access high quality information on the menopause, including advice on managing symptoms and where to seek support when they need it the most.
We are also renewing the Women’s Health Strategy for England to set out next steps to improving women's healthcare as part of the 10-Year Health Plan. The priority will be to create a system that listens to women's experiences and tackles the inequalities they face. The renewal will look at women’s health as a whole including considering the menopause.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) availability and (b) affordability of hormone replacement therapy; and what steps he is taking to reduce regional disparities in access to menopause-related healthcare.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
While there are no plans to review the inclusion of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) within the prescription charge exemption list, the HRT prescription pre-payment certificate is available for patients who are prescribed HRT on the National Health Service. The price of the HRT prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) is the equivalent of two single prescription charges, currently £19.80, and covers all qualifying prescribed HRT medicines for the 12-month period of its validity, representing significant saving for patients compared to the single prescription charge. In financial year 2024/25, approximately 13.3 million HRT items were dispensed without charge, either because they were covered by the HRT PPC or the patient held an exemption from prescription charges.
There are over 70 HRT products, and the majority are in good supply. We are aware of shortages affecting Estradot (estradiol) patches. We are engaging with the supplier to expedite deliveries. We have issued guidance to healthcare professionals and Serious Shortage Protocols to enable community pharmacists to supply specified alternative estradiol patches.
We will also be asking local authorities to include menopause in the NHS Health Check from 2026. This will support eligible women from across England to access high quality information on the menopause, including advice on managing symptoms and where to seek support.
Further data on HRT prescriptions is available via the NHS Business Services Authority at the following link:
https://nhsbsa-opendata.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/hrt/hrt_June_2025_v001.html
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the inclusion of hormone replacement therapy within the prescription charge exemption list.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
While there are no plans to review the inclusion of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) within the prescription charge exemption list, the HRT prescription pre-payment certificate is available for patients who are prescribed HRT on the National Health Service. The price of the HRT prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) is the equivalent of two single prescription charges, currently £19.80, and covers all qualifying prescribed HRT medicines for the 12-month period of its validity, representing significant saving for patients compared to the single prescription charge. In financial year 2024/25, approximately 13.3 million HRT items were dispensed without charge, either because they were covered by the HRT PPC or the patient held an exemption from prescription charges.
There are over 70 HRT products, and the majority are in good supply. We are aware of shortages affecting Estradot (estradiol) patches. We are engaging with the supplier to expedite deliveries. We have issued guidance to healthcare professionals and Serious Shortage Protocols to enable community pharmacists to supply specified alternative estradiol patches.
We will also be asking local authorities to include menopause in the NHS Health Check from 2026. This will support eligible women from across England to access high quality information on the menopause, including advice on managing symptoms and where to seek support.
Further data on HRT prescriptions is available via the NHS Business Services Authority at the following link:
https://nhsbsa-opendata.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/hrt/hrt_June_2025_v001.html
Asked by: Dan Norris (Independent - North East Somerset and Hanham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress is being made to ensure women in North East Somerset & Hanham have access to menopause treatments on the NHS.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that women suffering from symptoms of menopause have been failed for far too long, and we acknowledge the impact it has on women’s lives, relationships, and participation in the workplace.
The number of women in Bath and North East Somerset receiving hormone replacement therapy, commonly used to relieve menopause symptoms, has increased by approximately 85%, from 15,770 women in 2021/22, to 29,140 in 2024/25. The Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire integrated care board (ICB) has also commissioned its general practices (GPs) to provide testosterone replacement to menopausal women, who are affected by low libido as a result of ongoing hormone replacement therapy treatments.
Hanham falls within the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care System area, within which seven primary care networks are trialling the use of group education and group consultations for menopause. Over 1,000 people have attended a group education session. The University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust Menopause Service is running a training clinic for six GPs with additional qualifications in menopause, to upskill further in menopause care and help reduce waiting lists.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what measures the Government is taking to ensure that employers are supporting women managing menopause in the workplace.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We know that support in the workplace during the menopause can be crucial. That is why we will require large employers to detail the steps they are taking to support their staff during the menopause as part of an action plan. These will be introduced on a voluntary basis from April 2026, before becoming mandatory in spring 2027.
Furthermore, we will publish guidance for small and medium employers on the measures they should consider to enable women to better manage their symptoms, including: uniform and temperature; flexible working; and, recording menopause-related leave and absence.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of allowing men who require Hormone Replacement Therapy in the form of testosterone to be added to the HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The hormone replacement therapy prescription prepayment certificate (HRT PPC) was introduced to support women in accessing hormone replacement therapy medicines on the National Health Service as part of their care during menopause. The equalities impact assessment is available at the following link:
Testosterone products are not in scope for the HRT PPC because, even though they can be used "off-label" to treat menopause symptoms, they are not licensed for this purpose. No United Kingdom licensed testosterone products for the treatment of menopause symptoms have been launched in the UK.
Anyone can purchase the HRT PPC if they feel that it is the most appropriate product for them. The three-month or 12-month PPC, which cover all medicines prescribed on the NHS, may be more appropriate for patients who are prescribed medicines not covered by the HRT PPC.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the recent FDA advisory committee discussion on the risks and benefits of HRT, on (a) product labelling and (b) patient information; and whether the MHRA plans to conduct a similar review in the UK.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department which regulates medicine, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom, with responsibility for ensuring that medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.
Patient safety is our top priority. The MHRA keeps the safety and effectiveness of all medicines under continuous review, drawing on the latest scientific and clinical evidence.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an important treatment that helps many women manage menopause symptoms. We continually review emerging data on HRT to ensure that information and guidance in the UK reflects the latest evidence. The MHRA is currently reviewing the available evidence on HRT risks and considering whether updates to the product information are warranted for certain HRT products. This review remains ongoing, and we are currently determining the appropriate next steps based on the evidence.
Women should not make any changes to their treatment plan without first speaking to their general practitioner or healthcare professional, who can provide advice tailored to their individual circumstances.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of levels of inequality of access to hormone replacement therapy and menopause care by (a) deprivation, (b) ethnicity and (c) geography.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We know that more needs to be done to address the barriers to accessing menopause care experienced by women, and that some groups of women experience these even more acutely. The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we reform the National Health Service, and women’s equality will be at the heart of our missions, our 10-Year Health Plan, and the renewal of the Women’s Health Strategy.
In October 2024, the NHS published a healthcare inequalities report into NHS primary care hormone replacement therapy prescribing to treat menopause symptoms. This report provides insights by age, deprivation, region, integrated care system (ICS), primary care network, local authority, electoral ward, and Core20, as well as specific medication level analysts. ICS’s and local authorities should use this information to inform policies, planning, commissioning, and promotion of services.
From 2026 onwards, local authorities will be asked to include menopause in the NHS Health Check which will support up to five million eligible women across England to access high quality information on the menopause, including advice on managing symptoms and where to seek support when they need it the most. To improve access and engagement with the NHS Health Check, a new NHS Health Check Online service is in development, which people can use at home, at a time convenient to them. The new online service is now being piloted in multiple local authorities.