REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean has welcomed the ‘huge progress’ made in treating and supporting menopausal women to mark World Menopause Day.
Mrs Maclean has campaigned for better support and access to treatment for menopausal and peri-menopausal women during her time in Parliament.
In 2019, Mrs Maclean successfully campaigned to get menopause on the school curriculum for the very first time.
Since September 2020, pupils at secondary school have been taught about menopause as part of their Relationships Education and Sex Education lessons.
She said: “Having gone through the menopause myself, and the effects this had on my life, I’ve been determined to ensure menopause is better understood, and getting menopause on the school curriculum was a huge stride forward in achieving this.”
The Government has also announced a number of measures to improve the support available to women experiencing the menopause.
In April this year, the Government introduced the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescription prepayment certificate (PPC), which allows women to pay a one-off charge of less than £20 for all their HRT prescriptions for a year.
Over 300,000 women have purchased an HRT PPC, saving an estimated £9million in prescription charges this year.
Mrs Maclean added: “The menopause was barely even talked about when I first entered Parliament in 2017, and now we have a Women’s Health Strategy with improving access to treatment and support for menopausal women at its heart.
“As we mark World Menopause Day, let’s celebrate the huge progress that we’ve made, but also remain focused on continuing to improve treatments and understanding of menopause.”
