Rachel has welcomed cheaper and improved access to hormone replacement therapy for women living with the menopause.
The Government has announced that, from April 1st 2023, a new prescription prepayment certificate will be introduced, helping around 400,000 women save hundreds of pounds a year, reducing their HRT costs to less than £20 a year.
Women who are prescribed HRT - the main treatment for menopause symptoms - will have access to a new scheme enabling access to a year’s worth of menopause prescription items for the cost of two single prescription charges (currently £18.70).
As part of commitments to reduce the cost of HRT for menopausal women, the PPC will be valid for 12 months. It can be used against a list of HRT prescription items, and a patient can use this against an unlimited number of HRT items, such as patches, tablets and topical preparations. There will be no limit to how many times the certificate can be used while it is valid.
Reducing the cost of HRT is just one of the steps being taken by the government to improve access to HRT, alongside continuing work with suppliers to encourage and support them to boost supply to meet growing demand.
The introduction of the certificate delivers one of the government’s year 1 priorities for the Women’s Health Strategy for England. Published last summer, the strategy sets out an ambitious new agenda for improving the health and wellbeing of women and girls and to improve how the health and care system listens to women. Menopause was announced as a priority area within the strategy.
Rachel has been a leading campaigner on raising awareness of the menopause and has consistently lobbied the government to improve access to and the affordability of treatment.
“From when I first entered Parliament in 2017 to where we are now, we have made enormous strides forward in improving the lives of women who are living with the menopause,” Rachel said.
“The menopause was hardly talked about when I was first elected, and now it’s a top priority for this government.
“I’ve been lobbying the government for some years on the cost and accessibility of HRT, so I’m thrilled to see that costs are being massively reduced, saving women hundreds of pounds.
“From getting menopause on the school curriculum for the first time, to holding a debate in Parliament on this issue, I’m proud to have played a role in the progress that we’ve made.”
