Better Access to Menopause Care

There has been calls on the Scottish Government to take urgent action to give women better access to menopause care.

During a parliamentary debate on Tuesday 21st May, Scottish Labour has called to end the postcode lottery over menopause care.

In an answer to a parliamentary question by Monica Lennon last year, it was revealed that only five of Scotland’s fourteen regional health boards have a dedicated menopause clinic to provide women with the support they need.

Furthermore, there is no standardised form of recording data on menopause care in Scotland, both at a clinic or in a primary care setting such as a GP.

Symptoms of the menopause can last for more than 10 years and can have a negative impact on the ability of women to stay in the world of work.

Monica, reiterated the call to ensure better access to clinics during the debate saying:

“Women will experience menopause differently but it’s a fact of life and, wherever you live in Scotland, you should have fast access to advice and treatment if you need it.

Only five health boards in Scotland offer a dedicated menopause clinic and it’s unclear what support exists in the rest of the country.

I raised this with the Scottish Government some months ago, and the Cross Party Group on Women’s Health I lead held an event on the menopause last year.

I do welcome the fact that the Scottish Government are giving greater priority to the menopause agenda and it’s important that real change follows.

We need swift action to improve women’s access to healthcare and their experience of menopause in the workplace.”

 

Agnes Tolmie, Chair of the Scottish Women’s Convention said:

“We are immensely proud of all the crucial work that has been undertaken to alleviate the stigma and misinformation around women’s experiences of menopause.

It is essential that we highlight and give recognition to such an important issue in order to fully achieve women’s equality.”

 

Alys Mumford, Communications Manager for Engender, said:

“A significant proportion of Scotland’s population are currently going through the menopause, experiencing symptoms such as hot flushes, low mood, and anxiety.

Despite this, there is still considerable stigma around the menopause, and a distinct lack of awareness  of women’s experiences and needs in current policy frameworks.

Now more than ever women are working while experiencing the menopause transition, but many employers do not have menopause-responsive workplaces.”