Hundreds gather outside Westminster to make a stand on World Menopause Day
Protestors were joined by Lisa Snowden and Carol Vorderman
Hundreds of protestors rallied outside Westminster on World Menopause Day as they looked to make their voices heard and call for action from the Government.
They were joined by Lisa Snowden and Carol Vorderman on Tuesday as they shared their stories and encouraged women to speak up about their struggles.
Many have voiced their disappointed in the Government's failure to follow through with their single prescription charges which was agreed upon last year but still isn't in place as of yet.
One of the protestors said:
"Menopause is something that isn't spoken about enough or is spoken privately rather than publicly. HRT is very expensive, and women need it every month and it is inaccessible to most people because of its cost.
"What we are for today is to petition the Government to bring out the single prescription charge which means you pay one £9.50 a year and you have a year's supply which will make it more accessible.
"This is what was agreed upon last year, but nothing has changed since and with all the things going on in the world, this has been side lined."
Menopause affects 51% of the population and women of menopausal age are the fastest growing group in the workforce.
Lord Markham told the House of Lords today that more is being done to help women both through the healthcare system and in the world of work.
Currently, he told the upper chamber, 10% of people during the menopause end up leaving their job, noting that this is a "real loss to business and obviously a loss to that individual".
He added that 55% of women who show symptoms do not feel able to speak to their GPs about it and a further 30% feel there were delays in diagnosis.
Detailing the Government's plan to tackle these issues, Lord Markham said:
"The menopause is a priority in the women's health strategy. The NHS has a menopause programme to improve clinical menopause care in England and reduce disparities in access to treatment.
"The NHS is also developing an education and training package on menopause for healthcare professionals.
"We've appointed Professor Dame Lesley Regan as the women's health ambassador for England, whose role involves raising awareness of women's health issues including the menopause."
Prescribed HRT of £19 per year to be introduced
He added that the Government is introducing a fixed cap of £19 per year for prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women experiencing symptoms of the menopause.
Finally, he said the Government is appointing an employee champion to work with employers and address the fact that many women are leaving work during the menopause.