The NHS is the biggest employer of women in the country so it’s an important step in the right direction to see that NHS England have now published menopause guidance.
I have counselled or supported far too many nurses over the past few years who have felt that they had no choice but to leave a career they loved due to a lack of support in the workplace. Approximately 75% of NHS staff are women, the average age is 43 so this is a vital and much needed announcement.
Menopausal women working in NHS England will be able to work flexibly should they need to under new guidance.
Launching the first national NHS guidance on menopause, the NHS England chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, called on other employers to follow suit to help “break the stigma”.
She said many employees were “silently suffering” and were either too embarrassed to broach the subject or experience a “lack of support” when they did. No one should feel their only option is to “turn their back on their career” over menopausal symptoms, she added. “It’s our responsibility as leaders to ensure this doesn’t happen any longer.”
The NHS is the biggest employer of women in the country – 1 million work in the service and up to 260,000 could be approaching or going through menopause, and for many, this can be a difficult transition. With about 130,000 vacancies, retaining staff will be a key part to help with the challenges ahead for the NHS.
Here’s the full story in The Guardian today.