There was lots of excited chat about this report in the media yesterday but it must be remembered that what the report is recommending is exactly that, recommendations.
There is no plan in place to make this happen.
It would seem more sensible to me to ask doctors and nurses to discuss menopause during cervical screening appointments and at the health checks that should be offered from 40 onwards. These are perfect opportunities to share verbal and written information with every patient to help them feel prepared when perimenopause comes along. We also need mandatory menopause education for all our GPs and practice nurses to ensure they feel equipped to have those conversations, and a national public health campaign for menopause to educate and inform everybody, and to ensure that those who don’t attend cervical screening (please do, if you have concerns please speak to your practice) or will experience early or premature menopause are well informed and supported too.
The NHS is struggling to retain doctors because they are leaving due to the pressures they are under. Any extra services will need time and funding, both resources that are in short supply. We need to think about how we can improve menopause care and support within the current framework rather than add another check up to a service that is already creaking under the pressure.
Much of what is in this report is in the Womens Health strategy and the governments menopause in the workplace survey report, both published this year. We don’t need any more reports to follow this one, we need action. However, at a time of such political and financial unrest I am concerned that, once the media attention given to menopause awareness month is over, menopause and womens health will quietly slip down the agenda again.
I gave evidence to this APPG on behalf of Menopause Support and the #makemenopausematter campaign, you can watch the video of that here.