Scarborough woman welcomes lower HRT cost to help with menopause
It's hoped it'll reduce a massive burden for women
A Scarborough woman is welcoming the lower cost for Hormone Replacement Therapy.
From today, prescriptions will be capped at around £20 for 12 months.
Louise Cramond is going through the menopause, they said: "I was lucky enough to deliver a workshop on International Women's Day and the women in that workshop were crying because they sat in a room where other people said 'yes, I recognise that', 'yes, I understand that' and they didn't feel alone. It's something that a lot of women will give something else up for to pay.
"What you're doing is lifting a financial pressure off women. If it's £30 a month, you're talking about nearly £400 a year to pay for something that's so essential for women's health. For women that may have three different treatments, if they're having to pay for that every month, that's £30 a month for essential treatment. What I say is it's about time and I'm cheering this all the way.
"It's a very, very safe hormone replacement treatment for many, many people, but discuss it with your GP. For me it changed my life. It made my life bearable, I was human, I could remember, I could talk, I was sleeping and it changed my life. I wouldn't be without it."
Health and Social Secretary Steve Barclay said:
“Menopause care is essential healthcare, and we are ensuring cost is no longer a barrier to women getting the medicines they need.
“Better access to HRT will improve the lives of millions and gives women the freedom to take control of their symptoms.
“We’ve rightly put women’s health at the top of the agenda through our Women’s Health Strategy – and continue to deliver on our commitments.”
Minister for Women’s Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield said:
"Since we launched the Women's Health Strategy last summer, we have made great progress in raising the profile of health issues affecting women, including symptoms of the menopause.
“Often its necessary to use more than one type of HRT, and many women I have spoken to needed to try a few different types to get the right medication that works for them.
“Everyone is different, and price should not be a barrier to treatment – reducing the price of a year’s worth of HRT to under £20 is a huge moment of levelling the playing field.”
Professor Dame Lesley Regan, Women’s Health Ambassador for England said:
“Many women do not realise that they are going through the menopause.
“Helping to make them aware about the inevitability of becoming menopausal, is an important first step. The next step is improving awareness that HRT may be an option to help women manage this stage of their life course .
“Making HRT easier to access will significantly improve the lives of many women who choose to use it, enabling them to reach their full potential.”